Review of The Young Victoria (2009) by Torah D — 10 Jul 2011

This is a movie about old times made for modern people.

Although sometimes a bit too slow, this is a beautifully craved story, that moves you in a way you would never expect when entering the cinema.

First of all, it is a shame that the Academy didn't give Emily Blunt an Oscar for her wonderfully genuine performance. She knows how to thrill you, when to make you lover or even when to make you hate her. But most of all, she not only feels the character but also lets you feel it fully, making watching this movie a fulfilling experience.

Jim Broadbent shows us all his acting skills, despite this movie being Blunt's one woman show. Rupert Friend is a magnificent accompanier for our amazing protagonist, developing a touching chemistry with her and helping her shine, keeping himself in backstage managing when to lift her above stratosphere. Mark Strong is as good as always as the villain and Miranda Richardson gives us quite a great sample of what she can do when given more space.

Finally, Ilan Eshkeri's score is absolutely stunning - exquisite, I would say. He had already given us an example of what he could do with Stardust, but here he exceeds all the expectations and creates a beautiful soundtrack, full of emotion.

To sum up, despite some of its mistakes, The Young Victoria is a beautiful film about a beautiful love story - and with two major trumps: the great Ilan Eshkeri and the ravishing Emily Blunt, a young actress with still much to give.