My Policeman: A Movie Review
By: Mallory Johnson
The movie adaptation of the novel of the same name by British author Bethan Roberts recently came out; the film initially had a very limited theatrical release (only in the United States and United Kingdom) and then came out worldwide on Prime Video. I watched it the day it came out, and I loved it. It stars musician-turned-actor Harry Styles (Don’t Worry Darling, Eternals), Emma Corrin (The Crown, Pennyworth), David Dawson (Luther, Peaky Blinders), Gina McKee (Notting Hill, Atonement), Linus Roache (Mandy, The Chronicles of Riddick), and Rupert Everett (My Best Friend's Wedding, The Happy Prince). Before I go any further, SPOILER ALERT. Also, trigger warnings for homophobia (internalized and externalized), outing, discussions of death, nudity and sexual content, and brief scenes of homophobic violence. The movie is a drama mostly set in the 1950s, and it follows a forbidden love. The story is based on a book that I read, and it translates very well to the screen.
The movie is very different from Harry’s last movie (yet they’re set in the same decade for the most part). Harry was very passionate about My Policeman - he read the book and memorized the whole script before his audition! You can tell how passionate he is about this film because his acting was a lot better. The story's tones are also totally opposite; Don’t Worry Darling is an upbeat thriller (bordering on horror) and My Policeman is an emotional drama about lost time. I loved the casting in the movie, David Dawson and Emma Corrin nailed it and make unlikable characters loveable. The film deals with heavy subject matter, and I truly believe that it was handled well; the director said that there was an entire queer cast so that is great. I also loved how it was set and filmed in Brighton, UK, it was cool reading scenes and then seeing them being brought to life!
Overall, I really loved this movie and am so grateful to see Harry acting in his element. The flash forwards and the flashbacks were timed great, and I am glad that the flashbacks were given priority. I give it a strong 10/10 and am so glad I can watch it over and over again!