Waste of time

hyped garbage

The film was still a fun one that will make you laugh and have you leaving the theater feeling like you just stole something valuable and got away with it.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The movie is Master Class. Judi Dench conveys more emotion and anguish with one look than most actors do in their entire career. Becoming Queen Victoria is what she accomplishes in this small, independent, but, thoroughly enthralling film. The remaining ensemble is terrific from top to bottom. The movie strings extreme emotion throughout, first, deep sorrow and grief, confusion and anguish, and finally triumph. It keeps you guessing as to the Queen's competence to the throne and the relationship she constructs with Mr. Brown. The scenery is spectacular, both interior and exterior: it and Judi Dench will take you breath away. In the end, the movie satisfies on all accounts.

The worst year of Queen Elisabeth II as head of the state was probably not worse than the attention the British royal court got when Queen Victoria got engaged with her groom John Brown 150 years earlier. Unfortunately, it was a completely different time, a another world, and this relationship almost broke down the British monarchy.This movie is very well played. Judi Dench is magnificent as Queen Victoria, an awesome personality with a heartbreaking soul - and this performance earned her an Oscar nomination. Billy Connolly isn't less impressive; a Scottish groom in kilt, brimming with confidence - a free speaking man. Queen Victoria and him are two totally different people, but they fit together very well. The movie is characterized by great acting all over, as well as a good British sense for bygone times; the delicious nature surroundings and a good eye for details. This made the movie a great experience, but I see something about it that took it down a notch: the plot is too quiet in periods, and the script didn't allow room for any reflections. But in any case I did like it.

The nature of Queen Victoria's relationship with her Scottish servant John Brown certainly isn't of earth-shaking historical significance, however it does make for an interesting enough story, some good speculation (both in their day and in ours) and a reminder that royal scandal didn't begin with the current crop of British royalty.After the death of her beloved husband Prince Albert, Victoria became very attached to Brown, who in turn became very protective of her. Their relationship was for the most part a very informal one (shockingly so to others, to whom deference to royalty - especially from commoners, and servants to boot! - was the natural state of affairs) and the obvious closeness of their relationship led to rumours and innuendo about the possibility of a love affair between the two. The movie takes no side on whether that happened or not (although the very closing scene, in which two of Victoria's most important counsellors are relieved that Brown's diary was found and that no one else had seen it perhaps implies that "something" had happened) and the reality is that there's no solid historical evidence to suggest that any romance developed between the two. The movie does portray in a very convincing manner the complications of such a friendship: the jealousy felt toward Brown by both his fellow servants (to whom he becomes quite haughty at times, rubbing their noses in his special status) and by other members of the royal family, who feared the potential for scandal and also resented the fact that Brown was closer to Victoria in many ways than they were.The movie is a good period piece. The sets and atmosphere seem authentic and there's some great Scottish scenery in the midst of the story. The movie also features great performances from Judi Dench as Victoria and Billy Connolly as Brown. Also not to be overlooked is a fine performance from Antony Sher as Disraeli - the Prime Minister whose own position as head of government is being threatened by the Queen's increasing unpopularity when she secludes herself for years after Albert's death, and who eventually has to seek Brown's help (because Brown seems to be the only one with influence over her) to get Victoria to reclaim her public role as sovereign. The story may be trivial from a historical perspective, but at least it's interesting trivia!

Judi Dench plays Queen Victoria a year before winning her Oscar for playing Queen Elizabeth, and Billy Connolly plays the man who helps her recover from the depression she falls into after the death of her husband.This is a tasteful, quiet period piece that has not much to recommend it cinematically but does give one the opportunity to see some terrific performances. American audiences didn't know who Dench was at the time of this film's release, but that was soon to be corrected. Because she lost the Best Actress Academy Award for this role (to Helen Hunt, of all people), she won the very next year for her 30 seconds of screen time in "Shakespeare in Love" and has been an Oscar regular ever since. She could play a fence post and be nominated now, as long as she did it with a British accent.Grade: B