Review of Mrs Brown (1997) by Stuart K — 07 Feb 2013
Directed by John Madden (Shakespeare in Love (1998), Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001) and The Debt (2010)), this is an entertaining period drama which was originally made to be shown on BBC One, however Harvey Weinstein got to see it, and his company Miramax picked it up, and turned it into a world success.
It's got two brilliant leads up front, both giving terrific performances, almost career best. In 1863, Queen Victoria (Judi Dench) has been in a state of mourning for 2 years, since the death of Prince Albert, this has alienated the British public and parliament.
However, Victoria's chief servants led by Henry Ponsonby (Geoffrey Palmer) appoint Scottish servant John Brown (Billy Connolly) to help ease her back into public life while she's at Balmoral. His manners are at odds with her, but she soon warms to him.
But, the closeness between the reigning monarch and this lowly servant soon becomes a public scandal, and Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (Antony Sher) finds himself on the receiving end of parliament, wanting to dispose of Victoria.
It's an entertaining period drama, with the odd flash of wit, but there are some moments you maybe can't believe really happened. Would the real Queen Victoria have approved of being spoken to like that?? Who knows, but it also has Gerard Butler in his screen debut.
This review of Mrs Brown (1997) was written by Stuart K on 07 Feb 2013.
Mrs Brown has generally received positive reviews.
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