ONE LIFE -- Anthony Hopkins Stuns Again in Tearjerking Holocaust Drama

Review by Cole Groth

Anthony Hopkins is approaching his 90s and, in his late years, seems to be in a sort of resurgence. His turn as a dementia-addled octogenarian in 2020’s The Father earned him not only the superlative for oldest nominee for Best Actor at the Oscars but also the oldest winner. If you haven’t already watched the film, this magnificent performance is worth seeing, but if you’re looking for something more theatrical from him, you would be wise to watch his newest film, One Life. This powerful biopic tells the story of an ordinary hero responsible for the lives of thousands of people.

One Life is about one particularly important life — that of Nicholas Winton, a British stockbroker who hatched a plan to rescue Jewish children from Czechoslovakia before the rise of Hitler and the beginning of World War II. We see the story from two perspectives: a younger Nicholas in the '30s, played by Johnny Flynn, and an older Nicholas in the '80s. Through this, we see two stories: one of a brave man who rescued hundreds of Jewish children and the other of a quiet man with an enormous secret to hide.

The film plays out like a fairly standard biopic. It has excellent production design and is shot and edited nicely, seamlessly transitioning between the '30s and '80s. In the '30s, we are presented with a great story of war from the business side, and in the '80s, we have a more typical drama. The script, penned by Lucinda Coxon and Nick Drake, is well-written and undeniably engaging. It’s a thoroughly engrossing tale of a heroic man, told with passion and grace. It’s visually stunning and emotionally devastating.

If you haven’t cried at a movie in a while, be prepared to bring the tissues to your screening of this. Anthony Hopkins delivers such a legendary performance here that it will leave you stunned. He perfectly captures Nicholas Winton’s quiet sadness and hope, never overacting and constantly feeling grounded in reality. The story it’s based on is a tearjerker already, so to have one of our best dramatic actors today in a leading spot is a match made in sad heaven. Johnny Flynn and Helena Bonham Carter are overshadowed by Hopkins but are also great additions to the cast.

One of the few problems this has is that it’s by-the-books. You won’t find any groundbreaking storytelling devices in this film. Instead, we’re given competent filmmaking and a good script, all backed by a legendary actor and a great cast to support him. The third act feels frustratingly disconnected from the first two acts and is occasionally predictable. These are minor concerns that keep the film from being perfect.

Nicholas Winton’s story is undoubtedly incredible, and it’s nice to see that director James Hawes portrayed his story right for the big screen. Anthony Hopkins remains one of the best actors alive and delivers yet another knockout in this excellent drama. It’s heartfelt and heartbreaking without ever being too overbearing. One Life ​is well made in every way and deserves a watch on the big screen.
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One Life releases in theaters starting March 15.

Rating: 4/5