Movies
Mrs. Brown
Undramatic historical drama focussed myopically on the increasing influence of an impertinent Highlander over the widowed Queen Victoria. Stand-up comic Billy Connolly acquits himself well, but the capable Judi Dench starts out about fifteen years too old for the role, and the rest of the cast are cardboard. Directed by John Madden. 1997.
Reader Rating:
MPAA Rating: PG
? Did we see the same movie? For those who like historical dramas, and even for those who don't, this is a very dramatic, interesting, fairly accurate, highly enjoyable movie. Dame Judi Dench was superb; Billy Connelly's performance as John Brown was riveting; and, Antony Sher was quite entertaining as PM Benjamin Disraeli. The remaining cast are not "cardboard" they act aptly British and entirely believable. Dench won the Golden Globe, BAFTA, and BAFTA Scotland awards for Best Performance/Best Actress for her role, and was nominated for an Academy and SAG Award. (She certainly did not look too old to play Queen Victoria as Victoria appeared around 1863 when John Brown became her manservant. Have you seen pictures of Victoria at age 44? Dench did her much justice). Connelly was nominated for a SAG, BAFTA, and BAFTA Scotland award (and most likely would have won at least one of them but for his "outsider" comedic background); and, the film itself was nominated for a BAFTA and Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film.
If you have a Netflix account you can watch it instantly, and is certainly worth your time if you are looking for something good on TV. Considering some of the mind-melting meringue out there that have rated two "dots" from you, this movie certainly deserves a 2.5! (3 in my book). Perhaps, Duncan, you just aren't that into old Brits? :)
By lallaw 2:25 a.m., Apr 13, 2009 > Report it