Film Critic

Richard Fitzwilliams specializes in epics, historical films, and war films, as well as films featuring royalty. As a royal commentator, he has viewed the vast majority of well-known films in these categories.

As Editor of International Who’s Who, he annually chose names for films and theatre and has met many top actors.

He is a commentator on the Oscars, BAFTAs, and Golden Globe awards ceremonies, having previously appeared on CNN, BBC News Channel, Sky News, and ITV News. His extensive awards coverage includes:

• 2013: 17 interviews on the Oscars, 14 on the BAFTAs
• 2014: Oscar coverage on Sky News, Al Jazeera, and BBC World Service
• 2015: Golden Globe and Oscar nominations live for CNN
• 2016: Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations for CNN and radio, Oscar nominations live for CNN
• 2017 & 2018: Oscar Ceremony reviews for CNN and other sources
• 2019: Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG Awards, and Oscar nominations for CNN
• 2020: Oscar Ceremony preview and review for CNN and TRT World
• 2022: Oscar coverage for Al Jazeera

He reviews films weekly for Talk Radio Europe and Siren FM, as well as for Movies1 (online). His reviews also appeared in his Artscene column in The London and UK Datebook until 2021. In 2012, he wrote ‘Jewels in the Crown’ about royalty on screen, and in 2014, “The World of God according to Hollywood” about biblical epics, both in The Express.

He has reviewed Exodus: Gods and Kings, Ben-Hur, Hacksaw Ridge, Mary Magdalene, and Pope Francis: A Man of his Word for Radio 4’s “Sunday” programme.

He scripted and hosted a three-hour event at The Cinema Museum comparing screen versions of Mutiny on the Bounty in March 2014, and another on “Swords and Sandals” epics in September 2014. He has given talks on “Swords and Sandals” epics at various venues, and his talk on Monarchy on Screen was held at several clubs and Westminster Library in 2017 to coincide with the release of the second series of The Crown.

He has lectured on War on Screen at the National Army Museum and participated in an international phone-in on this topic for Voice of America, as well as on film censorship. He reviews the London Film Critics Circle Awards Ceremony annually.

The films he has reviewed most frequently include: Ben-Hur (2016), Saving Private Ryan, and Exodus: Gods and Kings.

He has also reviewed: Titanic, The Queen, The King's Speech (6 reviews in 2011), and The Favourite (5 reviews in 2019).

He has attended premieres including Extreme Measures, Mickey Blue Eyes, Johnny English (where he was an extra), The Merchant of Venice, and Wilde. He has described attending the post-premiere party for Four Weddings and a Funeral for the Naval and Military Club history, recalling Elizabeth Hurley's famous "That Dress" moment.

He has had regular film slots with or been used by LBC, BBC London, Talksport, BBC Wales, BBC 5 Live, Newstalk 106 (Dublin), BBC Ulster, BFBS (for The Hurt Locker), and BBC World Service, as well as formerly by Radio Liberty and News Direct. He is also occasionally used by several BBC local radios, TalkRADIO, and was formerly the regular reviewer for BBC Three Counties and BBC Radio Jersey.

He can recite the scripts of many films such as Lawrence of Arabia, If…, the three Mutiny on the Bounty films, A Man for All Seasons, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, My Fair Lady, The Charge of the Light Brigade (1967), and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. He has seen hundreds of films several times.

He has reviewed films since he was a student, and has been an extra in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, I Capture the Castle, Silent Witness, etc. He has visited Universal Studios, LA, and Pinewood Studios.

Obituaries

He often provides obituaries on various TV channels such as BBC, CNN, and Sky News, and for radio when a famous actor dies. His notable obituaries include:

• Dame Elizabeth Taylor (including Talksport Radio)
• Peter O’Toole
• Albert Finney
• Philip Seymour Hoffman
• Robin Williams
• Carrie Fisher
• Alan Rickman
• Dame Diana Rigg

Favourite Films

Epic: Lawrence of Arabia, The Leopard, Charge of the Light Brigade, El Cid, Gladiator.

Comedy: Kind Hearts and Coronets, Some Like it Hot, All About Eve, Anora.

War: Saving Private Ryan, Apocalypse Now, Letters from Iwo Jima, The Hurt Locker, 1917.

Musical: My Fair Lady, Chicago, Cabaret, Mary Poppins, La La Land.

Romance: The Age of Innocence, Casablanca, Cold War.

Romance (2): Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Before Midnight (trilogy).

Thriller: The Third Man, The Godfather (part 2), Klute, All the President’s Men.

Western: High Noon, Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Shenandoah, The Power of the Dog.

Horror: Psycho

Psychological: Don’t Look Now, Tar, Rosemary’s Baby, Persona.

Science Fiction: 2001 A Space Odyssey, Planet of the Apes, Alien.

Shakespeare: Henry V (Olivier), Ran, Throne of Blood, Chimes at Midnight.

Docudrama: Battle of Algiers, Z, Culloden.

Courtroom: Anatomy of a Murder, Witness for the Prosecution.

Naval: Master and Commander, Mutiny on the Bounty (1936), Sink the Bismarck.

Literary Adaptations: Tess (Polanski), Jane Eyre (1944).

Innovation: Citizen Kane, If…, Boyhood.

Series: Lord of the Rings, Succession.

Adventure: The Day of the Jackal, Guns of Navarone, Northwest Frontier.

Classroom: The Class, Dead Poets’ Society, Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.