Journey’s End Review

While Stanhope is unquestionably a drunken asshole, it’s hard not to sympathize with him as you begin to understand the weight placed upon his shoulders. We get the sense that this handsome officer is highly respected by his men, but is known as a drunk whose wrath you want to avoid. Stanhope is ashamed of what he’s become but is at the point of no return, and relies on alcohol to get him through his daily duties. Raleigh and Stanhope are essentially on two separate ends of a character arc, with Raleigh the eager, wet-behind-the-ears new recruit and Stanhope the defeated, self loathing, alcohol infused leader of a doomed infantry squadron on the frontlines of a gruesome war.

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As the unit’s only other seasoned officers, Osborne and Trotter are just holding themselves and their men together. Osborne, with the help of Trotter (the cook) take turns as mother-like figures tasked with handling Stanhope’s deteriorating mental state and managing the group’s diverse personalities. Paul Bettany is fantastic in the role as the former school teacher and plays Osbourne with kindness, warmth, and a calming demeanor. It’s clear through the interactions between Osborne and Stanhope that their is a mutual respect between the two and that Osborne is relied upon to fill in the gaps of Stanhope’s shortcomings.

The remaining cast of officers is filled out by the quiet cook Mason (Toby Jones), and the defeated Hibbert (Tom Surridge) who has completely given up and is unable to perform his duties. Hibbert at times serves as a reflection of the man Stanhope could have become if he hadn’t turned to drinking to deal with the horrors of war and didn’t care about he welfare of his men. There’s a great scene where Stanhope breaks down and confides in Hibbert, telling him that he’s having similar struggles and that there are times when he doesn’t want to get out of bed. The two officers bond over their shared experiences and the scene serves as another example of the film’s excellent dialog and character development.

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In another memorable scene, Osborne and Raleigh are about to head out on a raid. Osborne knows there’s a good chance he won’t return and begins preparing his valuables. He doesn’t want to spook Raleigh, who is eager for his first bit of action so he tells him that he merely doesn’t want to lose them during the operation. Raleigh knows the real reason but tries to put it in the back of his mind. It’s these interactions between the officers that make the film adaptation of Journey’s End a must see for longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Journey’s End is a fantastic film that successfully makes the transition from 90-year-old stage play to modern day theaters. The film features some excellent performances from the cast of officers that make you genuinely care about their well-being and personal struggles. Although the majority of the film takes place in one small room, the confined quarters add to the tension between the officers leading to some compelling interactions. Journey’s End is a film that is worth seeking out and provides the character depth and intimacy that was noticeably absent from 2017’s critically-acclaimed war film, Dunkirk.