Takes a while to get to Boromir, but that’s ok. We know he’s on the way. Just need to get through the birthday party (not my favourite part of the story), the events in Bree, and the disaster at Weathertop. And THEN we get to Rivendell, and the Council of Elrond.

• Boromir’s entrance is glorious: hair flowing, shield on back, horse looking epic. The very picture of a warrior.
  • The hair doesn’t look too bad: not as long as in Patriot Games, at least. And it suits the pseudo-medieval feel of the world.
• Boromir goes wandering, admiring art, meets Aragon… and realises who Aragorn is.
  • Already we see some of Boromir’s trouble; ambition, a desire to be great, feeling overwhelmed by someone he thinks could be greater than him.
• Bean does stately very well – relating his dream, arguing with Gandalf from the point of view that he understands.
  • And then Boromir gets spiteful: Gondor needs no king.
• “One does not simply walk into Mordor” – Boromir gets some of the great meme-worthy lines.
• Boromir shows his worth in accepting the decision of the Council. (Going just from the movie) I see no reason to suggest, from how this part is portrayed, that Boromir has any thought of treachery in this moment. He is committed to following what the others have decided. Partly to make sure Gondor get in on the honour, to be sure, but that’s understandable and not evil in itself.
• I really enjoy the ‘teaching the hobbits to fight’ scene. It’s about the most human Boromir gets to be, rather than the stuffed-shirt warrior – and shows us his connection to Merry and Pippin early on.
• Picking up the ring in the snow: poor Boromir. He’s far more fallible than he wants to be. (Also Bean plays this scene really nicely.)
• “This is no mine; it’s a tomb” – another great line.
• Nobody can doubt Boromir’s courage, with the way he goes wading into the pool to fight the basically-a-kraken.
  • And again – as in the snow on Caradhas – Boromir takes care of Merry and Pippin.
• “They have a cave troll” – ngl, always love this moment. Every time.
  • Again, in this fight Boromir shows his true worth; he is a skilled and fierce warrior.
• And again: crossing the broken stairs, Boromir jumps with Merry and Pippin.
  • I knew all of these moments but I had never really put them together before. It’s quite lovely, actually.
• (Dwarves should be spoken to about the concept of balustrades, though.)
• It’s Boromir who holds Frodo back when Gandalf is about to fall – which makes sense: he’s probably the least connected to Gandalf of any of the Fellowship.
  • When everyone is having a weep, Boromir comforts Gimli. And when Aragorn is being a tough leader, Boromir is the one who pleads to let them have a moment, “for pity’s sake.”
• Boromir’s gentle words to Frodo, about not carrying he weight of the dead, are revealing of who he could have been, with more encouragement.
• Ah Lothlorien. Poor Boromir’s background gives him no way of dealing with so many elves at once, and certainly not the power and majesty of Galadriel.
  • What makes Boromir distraught is also revealing – the fear that Gondor is failing, that his father’s strength is failing, and what that will mean for his people and his city.
  • And for just a moment, Boromir acknowledges Aragorn as king, and that his return to the city will be exactly what they need.
  • Bean plays distraught well.
  • I have never noticed that Boromir doesn’t get a special gift (aside from a cloak) from Galadriel.
• Boromir’s boat has Merry and Pippin in it.
• I don’t blame Boromir for trying to convince Aragorn to go via Gondor. He has so much faith in the strength of his people, and it blinds him to alternatives – and to Gondor’s failings.
• I like that Boromir is collecting firewood – he’s not too proud to do menial work.
• “You are not yourself” – this is the key, and Frodo knows it: the ring is using Boromir’s best qualities and twisting them.
  • Bean plays the changing emotions in this section beautifully.
• And Boromir gets one glorious last stand. Protecting Merry and Pippin.
  • He does a marvellous death scene, Bean.
  • Boromir and Aragorn’s last scene is a beautiful one. It’s a cliche, the deathbed clarity, but I don’t care: “I would have followed you, my brother, my captain, my king.”
• Farewell Boromir, over the Falls of Rauros you go.

Verdict: A valiant warrior, let down by his upbringing (OK, so I know that from the rest of the trilogy, whatever) and ultimately susceptible to the ring precisely because he wants to bring glory and honour to his city-state and can’t see the broader picture.

Movies: 4. Beans dead: 3.