Oscar-winning film hailed ‘spectacular’ with 98% Rotten Tomatoes score finally lands on Netflix
The lead actor 'gave the best performance of his career'.
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Previous Page Next PageNetflix viewers are rejoicing as one of the most popular Oscar-winning films of recent years finally arrives on the streaming platform.
Starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, The Father was released in 2021 in the UK after originally premiering just before the Covid pandemic.
But a delayed release didn’t affect its popularity, with the film grossing six times its budget and being nominated for six Academy Awards in 2021.
The film stars Sir Anthony as an elderly man, also named Anthony, who lives in an apartment on his own while suffering from dementia.
His only real contact with the outside world is with his daughter Anne, played by Olivia, who frequently comes to visit and look after him.
However, Anthony believes that Anne doesn’t need to help him and refuses the care of several professionals as his condition slowly deteriorates.
Two cinematic legends, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, star in the film The Father together (Picture: Sony/AP)Celebrated by critics, the film currently has a 98% rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an average score of 8.7 out of 10, making it one of the highest-rated films of recent times.
The Father was celebrated for its depiction of the confusion and fear that dementia patients can suffer from, while Sir Anthony was lauded for his heartbreaking performance.
The critically-acclaimed film was nominated for six Academy Awards, winning in two major categories.
‘Anthony Hopkins is the most deserved Oscar winner from the last few years,’ one fan said (Picture: Sony/AP) The film received six Academy Award nominations (Picture: Sony/Everett/Rex/Shutterstock)Sir Anthony won the award for best actor, while the film was victorious in the category for best adapted screenplay, beating the mockumentary Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and best picture winner Nomadland.
Dame Michy said on X: ‘Have just watched The Father on Netflix. Anthony Hopkins was spectacular and a worthy Oscar winner and Olivia Colman also amazing.’
@Cinematogrxphy added: ‘Anthony Hopkins is the most deserved winner from the last few years. He gave the best performance of his career in The Father.’
Lee commented: ‘Watched The Father on Netflix last night, so sad. Anthony Hopkins is outstanding as per, [my wife] couldn’t watch it after watching her mum suffer with dementia for as long as she did.’
‘if you follow a superb screenplay, the language is a road map’ (Picture: Cedric Ribeiro/Getty/GEA)Speaking about how much the film affected him, @DrSJCostello said: ‘The Father on Netflix starring Anthony Hopkins is tender, tragic, and touching but by God, one must be in the full of one’s health for it.’
After watching The Father following its premiere at festivals in 2020, @NextBestPicture accurately predicted the film’s eventual awards fate.
‘Anthony Hopkins’ performance in The Father is one of the greatest I’ve ever seen an actor give. He could very easily win Oscar no. 2 for this!’ they said.
Sir Anthony said that to prepare for his role as a man with dementia, he had to remember experiences his friends went through while their parents suffered with the disease.
He told The New Yorker: ‘The family around him had to cope, had to be patient. They would try to answer his questions. They wouldn’t try to contradict him.
‘[But] if you follow a superb screenplay, the language is a road map, and so you don’t have to act. And then you work with someone like Olivia, and it makes it so easy. Acting’s not required.’
Watch The Father on Netflix.
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