My Policeman: LFF Film Review
2022 has been the year of Harry Styles‘ big acting roles and after a substantial part in Don’t Worry Darling, he now brings us his biggest one yet in My Policeman.
Set in 1950s Brighton, this romance drama tells the story of gay policeman Tom Burgess (Styles), who is in love with museum curator Patrick Hazelwood (David Dawson). Because of the times – homosexuality wasn’t legalised until 1967 – Tom keeps his sexuality and relationship a secret, even from Marion (Emma Corrin), who he marries.
Their story is shown via flashbacks while the 1990s storyline sees Gina McKee playing the older Marion, who agrees to let Patrick (Rupert Everett), who is disabled following a stroke, live with her and Tom (Linus Roache). I didn’t care for this framing device because I thought it distracted from the 1950s story too much but it pays off at the end and is quite moving. It really hit home how the weight of regret, secrets and pretending to be somebody you’re not has affected them over the years.
One of the biggest problems with Michael Grandage‘s film is how slow and dull it is. It should have been this emotionally devastating film but I was at no risk of crying. The screenplay is quite weak – there are some clangers in the script – and I struggled to concentrate on the story because it felt so dreary and low-energy and the pacing was completely off.
And then there’s the elephant in the room – Styles’ acting. I thought he did OK in Don’t Worry Darling (it wasn’t amazing but it did the job) but his shortcomings as an actor are more evident here because he has so much more screen time. This is a meaty, dramatic role that requires a range of emotions plus nudity and sex scenes. I applaud him for going for such an exposing role but it was a mistake. It surprises me how someone so charismatic onstage can be a charm-free zone on camera. His line delivery is so wooden – like he’s just saying the lines rather than acting them – his face and voice don’t always convey accurate emotions and at times he goes OTT.
I cannot fault Corrin or Dawson for their performances. Marion makes truly awful decisions so will probably be disliked but Corrin did well with what she was given, but Dawson was the only one who really made me feel something. Also, I thought Everett was rather wasted in his small role.
My Policeman should have been a poignant, tragic story about regrets and the weight of secrets but it fails to achieve that.
In cinemas from Friday 21st October and on Prime Video from 4th November