'Young Vic' intriguing, but not memorable
Emily Blunt as Queen Victoria. (GK Films)
The Young Victoria
Running time: 100 minutes
MPAA rating: PG (mild sensuality, violence, smoking)
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The really special, memorable historical dramas covering ascension to the British throne offer more than just elaborate costumes, pomp and circumstance and powdered wigs.
"The Young Victoria," for instance, ups the ante with sly, intriguing political maneuvers, royal family infighting and budding love.
While it falls a little shy of the truly greats like Helen Mirren's Academy Award-winning performance as Queen Elizabeth II ("The Queen") in 2006 or Cate Blanchett's two Oscar nominations for portraying the first Elizabeth ("Elizabeth" and the sequel), "The Young Victoria" isn't exactly a cinematic First Lady in Waiting.
Emily Blunt was nominated for a Golden Globe Award earlier this week for this title performance. On the verge of her 18th birthday and imminent domain of the British throne once her bombastic, heavy drinking uncle, King William (Jim Broadbent), passes, young Victoria has grown up in torment.
Her father died when she was young. Victoria's overbearing mother, The Duchess of Kent (Miranda Richardson), under the harsh influence of her desperately ambitious adviser Conroy (Mark Strong), tries to give her daughter the royal flush.
Why the rush to become queen? Why not let Mommy not-so-dearest rule for a while until Victoria's ready?
Blunt, also nominated for a Golden Globe award for her agitated work opposite Meryl Streep in "The Devil Wears Prada" in 2006, goes regal and generally calm in this outing.
It works. But watching "Young Victoria" unfold on screen, I couldn't help wonder why ascension-to-the-U.S. throne dramas never captivate like our British counterparts. True, Josh Brolin's George Bush didn't get to put on a fancy red robe or a crown in Oliver Stone's "W." last year. He did get to sit in the big chair, so to speak, though.
I think it's something else. Americans, and this includes our filmmakers, are too "cool" to show the human side of our leaders. Oh, we're quick to lampoon as Stone does with "W." But that's different. With an intriguing script by Academy Award winner Julian Fellowes ("Gosford Park"), "Queen Victoria" lets the royal foibles show.
Scheming prime minister Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany) may not be as good for the teen queen as he seems, while scheming cousin Albert (Rupert Friend) of Belgium might just have more to offer than shows upon first meeting.
From this aisle seat, French-Canadian filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée, known for the mystical coming-of-age tale "C.R.A.Z.Y." ( 2006), seems like an odd fit for this historical royal romance at first. Vallée's ability to keep the story moving forward with the needed blend of intrigue and romance makes this an enjoyable look back at British history, however.
Just not a truly memorable one.
"The Young Victoria," for instance, ups the ante with sly, intriguing political maneuvers, royal family infighting and budding love.
While it falls a little shy of the truly greats like Helen Mirren's Academy Award-winning performance as Queen Elizabeth II ("The Queen") in 2006 or Cate Blanchett's two Oscar nominations for portraying the first Elizabeth ("Elizabeth" and the sequel), "The Young Victoria" isn't exactly a cinematic First Lady in Waiting.
Emily Blunt was nominated for a Golden Globe Award earlier this week for this title performance. On the verge of her 18th birthday and imminent domain of the British throne once her bombastic, heavy drinking uncle, King William (Jim Broadbent), passes, young Victoria has grown up in torment.
Her father died when she was young. Victoria's overbearing mother, The Duchess of Kent (Miranda Richardson), under the harsh influence of her desperately ambitious adviser Conroy (Mark Strong), tries to give her daughter the royal flush.
Why the rush to become queen? Why not let Mommy not-so-dearest rule for a while until Victoria's ready?
Blunt, also nominated for a Golden Globe award for her agitated work opposite Meryl Streep in "The Devil Wears Prada" in 2006, goes regal and generally calm in this outing.
It works. But watching "Young Victoria" unfold on screen, I couldn't help wonder why ascension-to-the-U.S. throne dramas never captivate like our British counterparts. True, Josh Brolin's George Bush didn't get to put on a fancy red robe or a crown in Oliver Stone's "W." last year. He did get to sit in the big chair, so to speak, though.
I think it's something else. Americans, and this includes our filmmakers, are too "cool" to show the human side of our leaders. Oh, we're quick to lampoon as Stone does with "W." But that's different. With an intriguing script by Academy Award winner Julian Fellowes ("Gosford Park"), "Queen Victoria" lets the royal foibles show.
Scheming prime minister Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany) may not be as good for the teen queen as he seems, while scheming cousin Albert (Rupert Friend) of Belgium might just have more to offer than shows upon first meeting.
From this aisle seat, French-Canadian filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée, known for the mystical coming-of-age tale "C.R.A.Z.Y." ( 2006), seems like an odd fit for this historical royal romance at first. Vallée's ability to keep the story moving forward with the needed blend of intrigue and romance makes this an enjoyable look back at British history, however.
Just not a truly memorable one.
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