Victoria and Abdul Movie Review

We sometimes forget that legends are human too. We may not think of them that way, but sometimes we have to move past the legend to see the real human being underneath.

Queen Victoria is one of those legends.

The new movie, Victoria and Abdul, takes place at the end of her reign and life. She is celebrating her Golden Jubilee. Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal) is a young man from India chosen to celebrate the Queen’s 50th year on the throne by presenting with a gift from her Indian subjects. It’s supposed to be a one shot trip.  But the Queen is taken by the intelligent and entertaining young man. Abdul not only teaches her about his world and his life, but he becomes a favorite. This, naturally does not go over well with Victoria’s son and heir, Bertie (Eddie Izzard) and her household. The question is, will this unusual friendship last and how far will those around Victoria go to remove Abdul from her life?

This movie is based on a book, entitled Victoria & Abdul: The True Story of the Queen’s Closest Confidant, by Shrabani Basu. I have not read the book, my review is strictly based on the movie. The cast is nothing but stellar. My favorite performance came from Eddie Izzard. While he started his career as a performer in comedy, he clearly has the chops to play a serious or dramatic part. I would not be surprised if a few nominations came his way during award season. His Bertie is a man who has been chomping at the bit to sit on the throne and is not happy that this Indian man is placing one more obstacle in the way of getting to the throne.

That being said, the movie was disappointing. It was disappointing because there were moments in the narrative that felt like endings, but they weren’t. By the time the credits rolled, it was a relief that it was over.

Do I recommend it? I would love to say yes, but I have to say maybe.

Victoria and Abdul is presently in theaters. 

 

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Flashback Friday- Television Shows That Ended Before Their Time-The Riches (2007) & Dirty Sexy Money (2007-2009)

For every television show that is successful, there are many others that are not successful or that end before their time.

Two of these shows are The Riches (2007) and Dirty Sexy Money (2007-2009).

The Riches

Wayne Malloy (Eddie Izzard) and his wife Dahlia (Minnie Driver) are a couple  of con artists. Dahlia has just been released from jail. After a car accident, Wayne has had an epiphany. He wants to live a normal life with his wife and children.  Moving to suburbia, he thinks that changing the family name will allow them to move on from their past. But the past is not too far behind.

This show aired on F/X. It was a quirky, funny family drama set in the American South.  Created by a Russian Jew and led on screen by two British actors, this show was a standout for me. It’s just too bad that the people who run F/X did not agree.

Dirty Sexy Money

The Darlings are the wealthiest family in New York City. Led by Patrick “Tripp” Darling III (Donald Sutherland), this family is powerful. But with power and money, comes secrets. Nick George (Peter Krause) is the son the late lawyer of the Darlings. Nick spent more time with the Darlings than he did with his own family because his father was as the beck and call of his employers. A generation later, Nick has taken over his father’s position.  Nick tries to keep a reasonable work/life balance, but the more he tries to keep his professional and private life separate, the more they intertwine.

Dirty Sexy Money definitely took a page from the nighttime soaps of the 1980’s. With New York City as a backdrop and the core conflict raging inside of Nick, it was an entertaining television show. It’s just too bad that it only had two seasons.

I recommend both.