Luther (2003)

44% of critics liked it
(61 reviews)
75% of users liked it
(8,261 ratings)

The life of one of the controversial figures in the history of modern religion is brought to the screen in this historical biography. Born in 1483, Martin Luther (Joseph Fiennes) was an intelligent and principled young man who was studying law in early 16th century Germany when a close brush with… More The life of one of the controversial figures in the history of modern religion is brought to the screen in this historical biography. Born in 1483, Martin Luther (Joseph Fiennes) was an intelligent and principled young man who was studying law in early 16th century Germany when a close brush with death led him to follow a spiritual path and join a Catholic monastery. Under the guidance of Johann von Staupitz (Bruno Ganz), Luther became a valued member of the monastery's hierarchy, and as a sign of his trust, von Staupitz asked Luther to join him for a voyage to Rome as part of church business. Luther was appalled by the corrupt practices of the leading church officials, in particular the sale of "indulgences," in which the wealthy could purchase forgiveness for a wide variety of sins. Luther left the monastery to study theology in Wittenberg; a keen student, he later became a professor and won the support of Frederick the Wise (Peter Ustinov), who also recognized the potential controversy of Luther's iron principles. When a new pope, Leo X, assumes the throne at the Vatican, he orders the construction of St. Peter's Basilica. To pay the costs, an ambitious monk, Johann Tetzel (Alfred Molina), was sent out to sell indulgences to both the wealthy and the poor, leaving his audiences with little doubt of the eternal consequences that awaited those who did not empty their purses. An infuriated Luther wrote an angry essay on the corruption of the church entitled "95 Theses," and thanks to the recent invention of the printing press, Luther's words were soon circulated throughout Europe, leading to an angry conflict with Catholic officials which threatened to tear the church in two. Luther also features supporting performances from Claire Cox as Katharina von Bora and Jonathan Firth as Girolamo Aleandro. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr.
Directed By: Eric Till
Written By: Bart Gavigan, John Osborne, Camille Thomasson
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Sep 26, 2003 Limited
On DVD: Aug 31, 2004
Studio: R.S. Entertainment Inc.

Critic Reviews

Susan Walker, Toronto Star
Luther is rarely presented as anything other than a preacher. He preaches even in casual conversation.
Leah McLaren, Globe and Mail
About as swashbuckling as a history lesson gets.
Michael Booth, Denver Post
A few too many amateurish techniques and oversimplified confrontations hold Luther back a notch or two from greatness, and stamp it instead as entertaining Lutheran cheerleading.
Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter
Shot on 100 locations in three countries and outfitted with impressive props, costumes, art direction and medieval streets, Luther makes up for what it lacks in vigorous storytelling with such production values.
Scott Brown, Entertainment Weekly
Heady theological badminton, as vigorously thoughtful as it is piously historical.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
Luther is a film that you know will end with one of those codas telling us what a profound life he led. But the movie itself just doesn't leave that kind of footprint.
Dragan Antulov, Draxblog Movie Reviews
even with apparent lack of objectivity, LUTHER proves to be more interesting and more accurate depiction of history than anything recently produced by Hollywood
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Interessante por natureza (o tema é fascinante), o filme perde pontos pela frieza da narrativa e por simplificar idéias e alguns acontecimentos fundamentais na vida de Lutero.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It glosses over the brilliant monk's dark side and ignores his prejudices completely.
Louis B. Hobson, Jam! Movies
An effective history lesson, but not nearly riveting enough to be as entertaining as it is earnest.
Bruce Kirkland, Jam! Movies
An entertaining, well-crafted primer on one of the most important Christian leaders since Jesus Christ.
Martin Scribbs, Low IQ Canadian
Luther is the textbook radical: he acts out what his contemporaries merely profess.
Linda Cook, Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)
Both as a veteran movie reviewer and long-time Lutheran, I left the theater with the feeling that "Luther" is a good movie about a great man.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

danny d

fantastic film. accurate and very well acted, great portayal of the start of the reformation
Jens S

Pretty interesting history lesson on the life of Martin Luther. Rather quick paced and with a very colorful international cast. Including the wonderful Sir Peter Ustinow in his last big role. Well done.
Nate Z

[center][color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua][img]http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/5268/photo012ol.jpg[/img][/font][/size][/font][/color][/center] [color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua][/font][/size][/font][/color]… More
[center][color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua][img]http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/5268/photo012ol.jpg[/img][/font][/size][/font][/color][/center] [color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua][/font][/size][/font][/color] [color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua]Certain things can pass under my radar. Previously it’s been items like female flirtation and the due dates of papers. So imagine my befuddled surprise when last weekend my father, himself a Lutheran minister, said the family was going to hop on over to the movie theater and catch a historic bio-flick about Martin Luther, plainly titled [i]Luther[/i]. I had no idea this movie existed. And after seeing it, it left no strong memory that it did.[/font][/size][/font][/color] [color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua][/font][/size][/font][/color] [color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua][/font][/size][/font][/color][color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua]Luther (Joseph Fiennes, [i]Shakespeare in Love[/i]) is a 16th century German monk with some quibbles with the Catholic Church. Seems Luther doesn’t like how the Church is preying upon people’s faith for money, most notably its chief indulgence seller Johann Tetzel (Alfred Molina, with a criminally scant appearance). He makes up a list of 95 grievances, nails them to the doors of a church, and thus Protestantism is born. Luther’s ideas catch on wit the lower classes through rampant publication, thanks to the newfound printing press. The princes of the German states also like what this monk is cooking, and they decide to hold him in safety. The Catholic Church, however, is none too pleased. They threaten excommunication and eventually death, and keep pushing for Luther to recant. But Luther feels he must stand strong in his convictions.[/font][/size][/font][/color] [color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua][/font][/size][/font][/color] [color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua][/font][/size][/font][/color][color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua]The acting is fine, and the direction is passable, but the pacing of [i]Luther[/i] is like tracking the movement of a glacier. Some representative decisions are also fairly stupid. To try and communicate Luther’s internal struggle he hits his head and yells like at voices. The first time it’s funny. The next five times, it’s dumb. There’s also a dirty peasant child, who’s crippled but still a big fan of the Luther Man. Her gaping tooth smile has more screen time than some characters. Later in the film the peasant revolts ravage through the country with thousands massacred. Luther visits the ruins and comes across the little girl’s broken crutch and breaks down and cries. If you were in my theater you probably heard me hitting my forehead repeatedly (no voices though). [/font][/size][/font][/color] [color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua][/font][/size][/font][/color] [color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua][/font][/size][/font][/color][color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua]The film is an admirable effort, but [i]Luther[/i] ultimately fails because of the measures of film. To try and tell the story of Luther would be more appropriate for the confines of a miniseries, not a two-hour movie. The Reformation and its players lose its impact in such a shrift retelling. What the audience gets is a pared Cliff notes version that misses the richness, and gives lip service to the historical importance. What we’re left with are endless scenes where people dress up and talk and talk and talk. Without a sense of weight for character or story, the countless talky moments blur into tedium. If I had a sleeping bag with me I would have curled up into it.[/font][/size][/font][/color] [color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua][/font][/size][/font][/color] [color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua][/font][/size][/font][/color][color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua]Another problem is the lack of makeup. The film spans thirty-some years and yet Fiennes doesn’t age a day. My mother proposed that maybe he didn’t want to look old and decrepit in the film. I responded by saying, “He let them shave his head but he didn’t want anybody to splash some gray in his hair?”[/font][/size][/font][/color] [color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua][/font][/size][/font][/color] [color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua][/font][/size][/font][/color][color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua]I guess if you judge movies on costumes or production values, [i]Luther [/i]would be competent. But does anyone go to a film saying, “Man, I sure hope those costumes and sets are incredible! Fingers crossed!”? [i]Luther[/i] is a well-meaning bore that only historical enthusiasts and Lutherans might enjoy.[/font][/size][/font][/color] [color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua][/font][/size][/font][/color] [color=darkred][font=Arial][size=3][font=Perpetua][/font][/size][/font][/color][font=Perpetua][font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate's Grade: C[/color][/font][/font]
Dillon L

The director just didn't get it right. The acting sucks too. I liked some of the set pieces, I guess. Pretty tedious story-telling.
Barry L

The man is a Protestant God!