I use the term "simple" to describe the structure and premise, not the film as a whole. It's the second world war as seen through the eyes of the three titans fighting against a tyrant, all from different styles of government but one goal in mind. FDR represents democracy; Churchill a constitutional monarchy (the king not mentioned), and Stalin representing communism which means that Roosevelt and Winston are watching go's every move. After all, at one point, he was aligned with Hitler.
The casting of these three very different but strong men is perfection. John Lithgow is superb as FDR, sad that his administration goal of staying out of war has been destroyed. Bob Hoskins is bombastic but humorous, forgetting that he had met Franklin once before in 1918. Michael Caine, Emmy nominated for his unrecognizable performance as Stalin, shows how the dictator truly believed that communism was the only form of government that could work under Russia's circumstances, and often making cracks against the other men into how different their ideals were.
The one big flaw for me is the odd looking split screen that occurs when the men are having conversations but not in the same country, let alone the same room. It's a distraction every time it appears, almost looking like a comic strip panel. The three always find some difference to argue over (with Franklin frequently the buffer), so that shows how even the best intentions in a single, shared goal can lead to differences. Hoskins is by far the most stubborn in character, with Churchill often having to catch himself even though his heart is in the right place.
The use of newsreel footage to show the various battles gives the film a lot more time to focus on the relationships between these three men, and you see the makings of future conflicts that would emerge after the war was over. All of the great speeches are presented with passion and determination, and for me, it's difficult to determine which of the three great actors is the best, although Lithgow as Franklin definitely is the most likeable. Keeping the focus clear without having distractions from lots of other famous characters gives this a unique perspective, and that makes this one of the best modern films about the war, certainly one of the more personal.
The casting of these three very different but strong men is perfection. John Lithgow is superb as FDR, sad that his administration goal of staying out of war has been destroyed. Bob Hoskins is bombastic but humorous, forgetting that he had met Franklin once before in 1918. Michael Caine, Emmy nominated for his unrecognizable performance as Stalin, shows how the dictator truly believed that communism was the only form of government that could work under Russia's circumstances, and often making cracks against the other men into how different their ideals were.
The one big flaw for me is the odd looking split screen that occurs when the men are having conversations but not in the same country, let alone the same room. It's a distraction every time it appears, almost looking like a comic strip panel. The three always find some difference to argue over (with Franklin frequently the buffer), so that shows how even the best intentions in a single, shared goal can lead to differences. Hoskins is by far the most stubborn in character, with Churchill often having to catch himself even though his heart is in the right place.
The use of newsreel footage to show the various battles gives the film a lot more time to focus on the relationships between these three men, and you see the makings of future conflicts that would emerge after the war was over. All of the great speeches are presented with passion and determination, and for me, it's difficult to determine which of the three great actors is the best, although Lithgow as Franklin definitely is the most likeable. Keeping the focus clear without having distractions from lots of other famous characters gives this a unique perspective, and that makes this one of the best modern films about the war, certainly one of the more personal.