--- title: "One Life: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/one-life/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/one-life" critics_score: 63 critics_reviews: 14 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # One Life (2023): what the critics said Critics' score 63 from 14 reviews: 5 positive, 7 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics agree on two things: Anthony Hopkins is the reason to watch, and the film around him is conventional. The praise clusters almost entirely on his understated older Winton, with several reviews also finding room for Johnny Flynn as the younger man, and on the recreation of the 1988 television reveal, which nearly everyone names as the moment the film earns its tears. The reservations cluster just as tightly. The reviews call the structure by-the-numbers, the wartime scenes diagrammatic, and the whole thing closer to television than cinema; a few find it orchestrated to the point of manipulation. The spread is narrow, with most notices landing in the middle and only two going properly negative. Slant Magazine finds it a staid biopic that reduces the rescue to facts and figures, and The New York Times argues it is really two films that never quite join. ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 15 March 2024. The critic praises the film's modest and restrained treatment that reflects Winton's quiet personality. She singles out the long-term emotional effects of his efforts many years later as the source of its moving impact. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-03-15/one-life-review-anthony-hopkins-johnny-flynn-nicholas-winton) ## Variety — Alissa Simon Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2023. Festival review. The critic calls it a stirring biopic and a testament to the power of good. She singles out the emotionally stirring re-creation of the 1988 'That's Life!' TV reveal as the film's most poignant element. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/one-life-review-anthony-hopkins-1235719982/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Leslie Felperin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 11 September 2023. Festival review. The critic praises Anthony Hopkins' understated performance as Nicholas Winton but finds the film conventional and diagrammatic. The TIFF festival review highlights the moving historical story but notes its by-the-numbers approach. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/one-life-review-anthony-hopkins-1235587474/) ## RogerEbert.com — Nell Minow Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 15 March 2024. The critic finds the film heartwarming but less than extraordinary overall. She singles out the Hopkins scenes for their sharper focus on existential issues of purpose and meaning. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/one-life-film-review-2024) ## IndieWire — Sophie Monks Kaufman Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 9 September 2023. Festival review. Anthony Hopkins delivers a devastating performance in this prestige biopic, but the script is silly and the overall craft is a mixed bag. The humanitarian story is handled unevenly. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/one-life-review-anthony-hopkins-1234903672/) ## Little White Lies — Adam Woodward Rating 3/3/4. 31 December 2023. The critic praises the film as uplifting fare boosted by solid performances, especially Anthony Hopkins as the older Winton, whose cathartic moment stands out; they note the conventional biopic structure but highlight moments of lightness and Hopkins' chemistry. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/one-life) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 9 September 2023. Festival review. The critic views it as an undeniably moving but overly orchestrated tearjerker that honors Winton yet relies on emotional manipulation; praises the layered Hopkins performance in the 1980s scenes. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/one-life-toronto-review/5185461.article) ## Time Out — Ian Freer Rating 3/5. 15 November 2023. The critic finds the film a conventional telling of a remarkable story, hampered by restraint but elevated by Anthony Hopkins' subtle performance as the older Winton. They single out Hopkins' portrayal for praise while noting it falls short of Schindler's List's power. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/one-life-2023) ## The New York Times — Ben Kenigsberg Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 14 March 2024. The critic notes that the film falls into a dramaturgical trap while trying to capture Winton's stoic modesty. He describes it as really two movies, with the wartime actions viewed from 1987. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/14/movies/one-life-review-one-mans-rescue-of-children-in-wartime.html) ## Slant Magazine — Gregory Nussen Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 9 March 2024. The film is a frustratingly staid biopic that reduces Winton's heroics to facts and figures, lacking depth in characterization and cinematic interest despite the moving climax. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/one-life-review-anthony-hopkins/) ## Empire — Kelechi Ehenulo 20 December 2023. A solid but conventional retelling of Nicholas Winton's story that doesn't fully reach emotional heights. Hopkins and Flynn deliver heartfelt, nuanced performances that make the film moving. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/one-life/) ## Evening Standard — Hamish MacBain 13 October 2023. Festival review. A beautiful tribute with a superb, warm and moving performance from Hopkins that will make viewers cry. The remarkable story of Winton's rescue efforts is powerfully conveyed, with added contemporary resonance. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/one-life-sir-nicholas-winton-kindertransport-biopic-anthony-hopkins-b1113288.html) ## Financial Times — Danny Leigh Rating ★★★★☆. 28 December 2023. The review notes that despite being flatly made and at times drab, the film still brings viewers to tears thanks to Hopkins's quiet compassion. They single out the lead performance as embodying the film's value in reminding what people are capable of. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/0007cd5d-d6be-4cf8-90a7-20e66b681b20) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw 28 December 2023. The critic praises the film's heartfelt and direct telling of Nicholas Winton's story, noting it is moving and does justice to a remarkable true event. They single out the recreation of the emotional That's Life! TV moment for particular acclaim. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/28/one-life-review-anthony-hopkins-in-extraordinary-true-story-of-british-schindler) ## The i Paper — Francesca Steele 5 January 2024. An extraordinary true story with enormously moving moments despite a conventional script and made-for-TV feel. Flynn and Hopkins excel in sensitive, meticulous portrayals of Winton at different ages. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/one-life-review-johnny-flynn-out-acts-anthony-hopkins-2821995) ## The Telegraph 12 October 2023. The review highlights Anthony Hopkins's light-touch and affecting restraint as perfect for the role of the modest hero Nicholas Winton. It singles out the soberly stirring period piece and the deployment of the real-life TV revelation as the emotional climax. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2023/10/12/one-life-review-anthony-hopkins/) ## The Times — Ed Potton Rating ★★★★☆. 12 October 2023. The critic calls it a tear-jerking story that does justice to a remarkable and modest man. They single out the performances of Hopkins and Flynn along with the warm, unfussy direction and careful handling of the pain of belated recognition. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/one-life-review-nicholas-winton-anthony-hopkins-bchqbf27z) ## Collider — Isabella Soares Rating 8/10. 19 September 2023. Festival review. Led by an excellent Anthony Hopkins, One Life is a powerful adaptation that does right by its historical heroes. The film succeeds through its simplicity, strong casting including Johnny Flynn as young Winton, and attention to authentic details in production design. [Read the review](https://collider.com/one-life-review/) ## HeyUGuys — Daniel Goodwin Rating 4/5. 18 December 2023. Praises the well-structured screenplay, intricate detail, stunning performances, taut pacing and heart; notes it's just shy of phenomenal but worthy of big screen. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/one-life-review/) ## Paste — Brogan Morris Rating 6.5/10. 12 March 2024. Well-acted and competently told with a strong central performance from Anthony Hopkins as the older Winton, the film is accessible but appears flimsy compared to more rigorous recent Holocaust cinema. It centers the rescuer's emotional journey and ends on a triumphant note. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/anthony-hopkins/one-life-review) ## The Playlist — Gregory Ellwood Rating C+. 10 September 2023. Festival review. Finds most of the film conservative and by-the-numbers, uninspired despite Hopkins, but the emotional turning point is strong; wishes the rest lived up to it. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/one-life-review-anthony-hopkins-gets-this-tearjerker-to-safe-shores-tiff-20230910/) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond 14 March 2024. The critic calls it a moving and inspiring true story of quiet heroism that should not be missed. They single out Anthony Hopkins' performance as perfectly embodying the modest man and the film's admirable restraint under first-time director James Hawes. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2024/03/one-life-review-anthony-hopkins-inspiring-story-man-who-saved-669-children-in-1938-1235858047/) ## Film Stories — Simon Brew 1 January 2024. The critic praises the film's accessible, mainstream storytelling and the powerful emotional impact of the 1980s segments with Hopkins' performance, calling it a fine, warmly recommended film despite being conventional. [Read the review](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/one-life-review-nicholas-wintons-extraordinary-life-story-brought-to-the-screen/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/one-life.md