The Young Victoria: Movie Review
Rating: 8/10 for females... 6/10 for males
Cast: Emily Blunt, Rupert Friend, Paul Bettany, Miranda
Richardson, Jim Broadbent
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Produced by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, and Academy Award winners
Martin Scorsese and Graham King, The Young Victoria is
something I've waited a long time for - a decent costume drama.
And one without Ms Knightley in it to boot!
The Young Victoria , much like the title suggests, tells the
story of Queen Victoria's ascension to the throne, her shaky first steps as
Britain's monarch, and the courtship that eventually led to one of the most
famous romances of all time.
Queen Victoria (Emily Blunt) is a headstrong young woman wary of being
manipulated, who is unsure who to trust in the first years of her rule.
When her cousin, Prince Albert (Rupert Friend), counsels her to learn to play
the political game better than those who seek to use her, the audience gets its
first hint that this gentle, logical man may be the perfect match for the feisty
queen.
But standing in his way is Victoria's heavy reliance on the Prime Minister,
Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany), for guidance.
Blunt's nuanced portrayal of Victoria manages to balance great strength of
character with an underlying vulnerability, giving the queen an accessibility
that immediately endears her to the audience.
Friend also impresses with his inherently likeable interpretation of Albert.
He has the audience in the palm of his hand from the moment he advises Victoria
to "...find [a man] to play [the political game] with you, not for you."
Even though this story's outcome is pre-determined, The Young
Victoria is no dry dusty plod through the history books. There is
plenty of humour and joie de vivre, as well as a surprising amount of suspense.
It's at this point that I have to admit to being genuinely worried that
Victoria wouldn't end up with Albert, even though my general knowledge was
telling me otherwise...
But please don't think this is just another sweeping romantic saga in fancy
dress, although the costumes are exquisite.
The real focus is on Victoria's coming of age, and her struggle to find the
best way to serve her people and her country. And since Fergie is a producer, I
can't help but believe that this movie is fairly accurate in its depiction of
the behind-the-scenes politics faced by the British Monarchy.
Also adding to the film's royal connections is a rather unusual extra -
Princess Beatrice, who has a 'blink and you'll miss it' non-speaking role as one
of Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting.
So what
are you waiting for?
The Young Victoria is hugely enjoyable, visually opulent,
and has a fabulously talented cast who are a delight to watch.
At Darren's World of Entertainment - a movie, DVD and game review blog. The latest movie and DVD reviews - plus game reviews as well. And cool stuff thrown in when I see it.
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