Review: 'Queen and Country' Is John Boorman's Semi-Autobiographical Story About His Army Days

You can hear KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl's movie reviews on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM Fridays at 8:53am & 4:53pm.

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- KCBS Entertainment Editor Jan Wahl reviews "Queen and Country," director John Boorman's sequel to his semi-autobiographical film "Hope and Glory" about a young conscript in the post-WWII British Army who lives on military base run by colonial officers. Also starring Callum Turner and Vanessa Kirby.

LISTEN:

QUEEN AND COUNTRY (not rated) 115 min

In 1987 British director/screenwriter John Boorman made a very well-received film called "Hope and Glory." It was nominated for five Oscars. It told the compelling story of a nine-year-old boy whose school was destroyed in the London Blitz by a Luftwaffe bomb. "Queen and Country" picks up the story a decade later as this feisty young boy is now a bright young (Caleb Landry Jones) man in the Army's basic training. Instead of being shipped off to Korea, he is assigned to a strange military base where he becomes a typing instructor. His roommate there makes trouble, his Sgt. and Major are, from old English order, are so strict and bizarre they seem like characters a bit out of "Catch 22". It's not a great film, but it's entertaining and honest, especially because it's based on Boorman's own life.

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