At least that's the way it came across to me, because the soap- opera aspects of her story as presented here were a snoozer. There are some very good aspects to this film but, for us, it had a bit too much of a BBC Sunday night drama. This gives the game away that even the filmmakers know they didn’t deliver a credible storyline and felt obliged to top it off with a few words. Please try againSorry, we failed to record your vote. 2 people found this helpful. The truth behind it was much darker - and it’s a shame. Please try againSorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try againSorry, we failed to record your vote. It also opens the question as to what should give way when ideology clashes with patriotism. In fact, Melita Norwood was the Soviet Union's longest-serving British spy. The workhorse role is Sophie Cookson as the young Joan. Beautifully written and played by all involved, particularly Judy Dench and Ben Miles. Why would any sane person bring this story to film, I haven't a clue. The movie had an interesting plot with some holes and predictability. Interesting story ... based on true events. Joan defended her actions by claiming that she was doing it for the right reason: to prevent further war. In 2013, author Jennie Rooney published a novel, Red Joan, loosely based on Norwood’s life. He played Prince Albert in the Victoria series and drove me crazy. The charge: providing classified scientific information—including details on the building of the atomic bomb—to the Soviet government for decades. Red Joan purports to tell the story of Melita Norwood, a Communist who handed British secrets over to the Russians.
All rights reserved.Joan Stanley (Judi Dench) is a widow living out a quiet retirement in the suburbs when, shockingly, the British Secret Service places her under arrest. It's a popular technique with actors these days--I notice Nicole Kidman does it to. So I was not very pleased having to spend £20 on the repair. Please try againTravelling or based outside United States? Joan seemed to think so. Story of ideals gone wrong. Anyway, back to the movie ... a little slow moving. Video availability outside of United States varies. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Sophie Cookson, the actress that plays young Joan is very good. Please try againSorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try againSorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try againSorry, we failed to record your vote. But that's just my reaction to the story. The trailer makes it look more exciting than it is, it's quite slow and I did give up on it the first time, in fact I fell asleep but glad I gave it another go. The most gobsmacking thing about her exploits was that she thought she was being a force for good, while committing the most heinous of betrayals. She continued to think, after being apprehended, that her actions in giving the Russians access to the same technology the west had would ensure peace. But, it held my interest. Tom Hughes, who plays Leo, I find a very annoying actor. Really enjoyed this. First of all, this movie was so mind numbingly boring, I am surprised I am not comatose. Please try againSorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try againSorry, we failed to record your vote. Annoying the Police procedures were incorrect but I suppose it was done for drama and effect. It's ok. I especially like that it showed the different perspective of all the people involved allowing you to make up your own mind. Melita Norwood decided to give the Russians access to the secrets of the making of the atomic bomb during and after WWII, reasoning (rightly, as it turned out) that it was less likely to be used if both sides had it. I would like to try again with another disc but may leave it as I think something is not right. Wow! It’s based on fact and raises some thought provoking questions around conflict of loyalty to country, politics or personal moral compass.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 17, 2019 It was OK, bit of a slow burner but not much else to do with such a story. Dame Judi Dench is the star, but she doesn't have a great deal to do since the story is told in flashback. This movie was very loosely based on Melita Norwood (the real Red Joan) who actually worked as a spy for the Soviet Union for nearly four decades. I read the book a while ago and found the story both intriguing and compelling. “Red Joan” is a traditional production, polished as brass and as old-school diverting as a film starring Judi Dench and directed by Trevor Nunn would have to be. Sophie Cookson costars. Switching from Joan's present day, explaining who she was and how her past during the 2nd World War has caught up with her.A very watchable film but we felt it could have posed more threatReviewed in the United Kingdom on February 28, 2020 My Machine works very well with otherReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 20, 2019 I was ok until I realised how deliberately and then unremorsefully, she betrayed her fellow countrymen. No idea this actually happened. This is a sudsy, paint- by numbers telling of a story that needed to be more about espionage and the British war effort than "Red Joan"'s romantic misadventures.