Review of Hyde Park on Hudson (2012) by Matt L — 02 Jun 2013

Historical films have been all the rage lately (Lincoln, Argo, J. Edgar, The Iron Lady, etc.) and it's not that history films aren't exciting- but let's be honest here: sometimes they really aren't all that exciting. It goes without saying that we go to the movies to be entertained, but there's just something unsettling about paying to see films based on true stories, even though that story is twisted around in order to look good for entertainment purposes. For instance, Titanic - love story aside - got the historical portions of the film correct, making for an all-around wonderful movie experience. On the other hand, films like Pearl Harbor and The Patriot have the absolute opposite impact and are filled with fictitious events that have the ability to paint the wrong picture of historical events. Making a film about questionable or even possibly fictitious events is dirty business, which also happens to be the case with Hyde Park on Hudson.

Taking place in June 1939, Hyde Park on Hudson tells the true story of President Franklin D. Roosevelt (Bill Murray) hosting King George VI (Samuel West) and Queen Elizabeth (Olivia Colman) as they visit America in an attempt to get the United States to aid England during World War II. It also focuses on the personal and intimate relationship between President Roosevelt and his distant cousin, Margaret Suckley (Laura Linney). Olivia Williams and Elizabeth Marvel also star in supporting roles.

As far as a biographical film goes, Hyde Park on Hudson tells an interesting story that people might not know as it pertains to the relationship between the United States and England in 1939. Indeed, the relationship was still strained from the wars that these two countries had had with one another, so it makes for some interesting, dramatic, and awkward moments between these two nation's leaders. At the same time, it's a film that is difficult to care about in the sense that you never get to fully grasp the urgency during this particular time in history. England badly needed the help of the United States, yet this film is nothing more than a glorified dinner party with FDR, his wife, the King and Queen of England, and - oh yeah, a handful of FDR's mistresses.

Supposedly, you're to believe that FDR had an intimate relationship with Margaret Suckley, even though you never actually see them being intimate. Bill Murray and Laura Linney are both exquisite actors, but they never seem to click together in this film. At certain points, it feels as though these two characters aren't even in the same movie, let alone in each other's lives. However, Murray really does a superb job of portraying the great FDR, but for a film that is meant to devote half of its energy on a relationship between FDR and Suckley, it just doesn't seem authentic - not to mention it's quite possible that their intimate relationship is historically fictitious. The jury is still out on that one. Regardless, its very apparent that FDR, JFK, and Bill Clinton had a lot in common as it pertains to their personal lives.

Overall, the story was a good idea to tell - but is done with poor execution. The characters are too bubbly, often times stuck up and hard to relate to or care about. And, since caring about characters is essential to a film's success, it's hard to call this film anything other than a failed production.

If you want information about the suposed love FDR, read a book instead.