I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.
... View MoreA movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.
... View MoreOk... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies
... View MoreThe best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.
... View MoreThe Politician's Husband featured a fantastic performance by David Tennant as the manipulative politician and husband. I thought Emily Watson's performance was decent, but her character seemed a bit one-dimensional. This could have been due to how the character was written. Either way, the story was engaging from start to finish. The side plot involving their home life and special needs child was engaging, and I believe would have been the perfect instrument to properly end the mini series.*Spoilers Below This Line* After the death of Aiden's father, Freya makes plans to take the kids away so that her husband can collect his things and move out of the house. As he sits at the kitchen table, distraught from all of his recent losses, his son (diagnosed with Aspergers) slowly approaches and hands him a toy, before leaving the room. I think this would have been the best way to end the series, as it finished the parallel between Aiden and his son Noah. Earlier in the episode, Aiden's father had remarked how Aiden was given a son who was incapable of deception, and that he (Aiden's father) was given one to whom it was second nature.To have the series end with Noah trying to show compassion or empathy for his father (which is exceedingly difficult for a child with Aspergers), it would have highlighted Aiden's own selfishness and tied a neat little bow around this drama.Instead, the next few minutes revealed a startling "twist", where Aiden and Freya have been named Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister - the final reveal being that Freya is actually the one elected as PM. While it's a fun thought, it was a little too unrealistic for me. It didn't seem to match the rest of the story.Regardless, this is still one of my favorite political dramas so far.
... View More"The Politician's Husband" is a 2013 miniseries out of England, starring David Tennant and Emily Watson.I'm unclear if this is supposed to be a series or just a miniseries - certainly the ending indicated it's a miniseries.Anyway, it's the story of Aiden Hoynes (David Tennant), a senior cabinet minister who shoots himself in the foot politically with a leadership bid, and his friend Bruce Babbish (Ed Stoppard), another higher-up, does not support him.Hoynes' wife, Freya, has always stood in her husband's shadow and concentrated on the family, a severely autistic son and a daughter.When Freya has a chance to become a cabinet minister, Aiden is all for it, believing that at the right opportunity, she can support his immigration bill, a stab in the back to the government.After getting a taste of power, however, Freya goes on television, the perfect opportunity to say she agrees with her husband, and doesn't agree with him.Very good drama about politics behind the scenes, with both Tennant and Watson giving excellent performances. I have to say in most instances, I don't think times have changed that much, and that the miniseries is realistic in that the husband would definitely mind being overshadowed by his wife in the same profession.The rest of it is more the stuff of drama, and I did like it, as Aiden becomes more convinced that his wife has aligned with his now-enemy Bruce both politically and physically. What looked like a strong "fairytale" marriage starts to unravel, with Aiden exhibiting sexual violence toward Freya, and there are accusations of infidelity that hit the press.I found Tennant especially good as the manipulative husband; in a way, it's a stronger part.Highly recommended.
... View MoreShort story long:Aiden Hoynes and his wife Freya are both ministers in the same political party. Aiden tries a leadership bid which is foiled by his supposed best friend and finds himself left out in the cold as his wife becomes a member of the cabinet. He feels emasculated and doesn't deal with this very well. The main storyline is Aiden's increasingly tangled web of deception and corruption and the effect on his marriage. He also has an ailing father and a son with Asperger's which he has to contend with.Review:Emily Watson and David Tennant are incredible. They're portraying people with very different temperaments which complements them well. Emily Watson's Freya is rather quiet and unassuming yet very smart, she seems distant at times and then just has things figured out. Brilliant performance. David Tennant's Aiden is suitably dark and twisted. His performance is much more vocal than Emily's. Gradually gets more and more horrifying until you're left clutching your face.Lots of plot twists and unexpected turns as political views change and people switch allies. I assume it's typical of parliament.Verdict: If you like gritty dark political drama watch this and if you want to see Tennant do some proper seriously dark acting watch this. A bit too gritty and dark for me, I prefer lighter fare. This is entirely personal taste though and I can still appreciate the brilliantly crafted story lines and acting talents.Warnings: Scene of sexual violence. Advised not to watch if you like Doctor Who and want to see any of his Tenth Doctor adventures again. If you're like me and prefer light action and comedy type shows then I would avoid it if you think you can't stomach it. Or just make sure you've got a fun comedy series or movie lined up for afterwards. Not a show for just before bedtime.
... View MoreIn a performance that sets the small screen blindingly ablaze, so powerful that she turns our screens into pulsating, living organisms, Emily Watson proves that she has now, along with the award winning master work Appropriate Adult, conquered television and made the medium her own, as she has with motion picture greatness. From the moment the camera focuses on her, this film comes alive and her presence stuns the audience with the superb work she does as the wife of a British politician with her own ambitions. She is nothing short of brilliant in the role and it is unfortunate that her magnificence as an actor tends to highlight David Tenant's inadequacies. He definitely puts in a tremendous effort to equal Watson and his hard work reveals too much of how difficult it is for him and how futile it is. Watson is a national treasure and a gift to stage, screen, and now television audiences worldwide. There is no one who can deny that and Tenant must realize he is in way over his head and his reach is beyond his grasp. Watson attempts to lift him up to her own level and she is most gracious in trying desperately not to overshadow him. She is a generous actor and she has succeeded in bringing out the best in others, as in the case of even Adam Sandler. However, here it simply doesn't work and what she faces is even beyond her genius. The weakness in this piece is not only on the shoulders of a weak co-star, but a less than stellar director, and an obvious script. However, what Ms. Watson does in her portrayal of a lovely woman coming into her own and letting her talent lead her to the top of a male dominated environment is tremendous and borders on the purely astonishing. Emily Watson demonstrates again that she is the greatest actor working in any medium and that has been the case since her stunning debut in 1997's Oscar nominated Breaking the Waves. Anyone who walked away from that searing performance without having their soul touched to the very core is absent a soul altogether. As the years pass, her career spotlights her growing excellence, her maturing beauty, and utter command of every role she takes on. Anyone who appreciates greatness and recognizes superb talent must see this film if only for Emily Watson's exemplary performance, another triumph of the finest actor ever to step before a camera.8/12/2014 One can not help but be stunned by the uninformed voting of 28 people and the artistic appreciation of only two! Breathtaking!
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