Review of Hyde Park on Hudson (2012) by Mark S — 12 Sep 2012

Toronto - So, I saw HYDE PARK ON THE HUDSON on Sunday afternoon. The film, directed by Roger Mitchell, revolves around President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's (Bill Murray) affair with his distant spinster cousin, Daisy (the sublime Laura Linney) and is set during a brief visit from the King and Queen of England (a wonderful Samuel West and Olivia Colman) at his home in Hyde Park, NY.

The movie is far from the THE KING'S SPEECH of two years ago, however, I must confess, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Bill Murray as the 32nd President of the United States. He gives a totally winning performance. And Olivia Williams as Elenore Roosevelt pretty much steals the show! At least for me anyway. She is magnificent. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. The most challenging role is the spinster Daisy. And Laura Linney, a beautiful performer does the best she can with this character. Unfortunately I think she is miscast. She's naturally too smart an actress to play the naive Daisy. But she is lovely to watch on the screen and looks fabulous in the period costumes. I would definitely see it again.