Mrs. Brown
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Movie Reviews of Mrs. Brown
Movie Review: "I think I am someone who can only feel things when they are alive to me."
Summary: 5 Stars
After Prince Albert died in 1859, his memory was so alive to Queen Victoria, and her mourning for him was so dramatic that she virtually retired from the throne. Three years after Prince Albert's death, while the Queen was living in seclusion at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, John Brown was hired to tend her horses. A rough, virile man, far more accustomed to life in the wild than in royal castles, Brown treated the queen with respect, but he also treated her as a fellow human being, refusing to obey court etiquette while encouraging her to improve her health and spirits by riding in the hills. In time, he came to be her confidante, so much so that the royal family became alarmed at their relationship and members of Parliament began referring to her, mockingly, as "Mrs. Brown."
Judi Dench, in one of her best roles, is a wonderfully sympathetic Queen Victoria--haughty with those who try to control her, angry with those who cross her, and vulnerable to someone like Brown, who understands her loneliness and is determined to protect her. Billy Connolly is perfect as John Brown--rough, craggy-faced, full of life, and unafraid to tell the queen exactly what he thinks, a trait the queen comes to respect. Scenes between them show the queen in all her reserve slowly responding to Brown's honesty and inherent charm, and though there was no affair (though all the film publicity suggests otherwise), the depth of their emotional attachment is obvious.
Filmed on location in the Scottish highlands and at Duns Castle on the Scottish Borders in 1998, this production features wonderfully intimate scenes of everyday royal life, including the full retinue of servants and ladies-in-waiting, the queen's enormous family, the impatient Prince of Wales, and many luminaries of history--especially Benjamin Disraeli (Antony Sher) and Lord Henry Ponsonby (Geoffrey Palmer), both of whom try to act in the queen's best interests while also protecting their own. As the queen responds to Mr. Brown's care, the slow, subtle effects on her everyday life become clear to the viewer through the remarkably acted scenes between Dench and Connolly. Dench won many Best Actress awards for her role here, and Connolly was nominated for an almost equal number for his role.
A gorgeous costume drama with a large cast, the film focuses on just two people--Dench and Connolly, both of whom are so overwhelming in their roles that everything else becomes peripheral. n Mary Whipple
Movie Review: A heart-warming true story of friendship and loyalty, politics and betrayal.
Summary: 5 Stars
Queen Victoria has long been one of my favorite British monarchs, so it was with great interest I viewed this movie about her extraordinary friendship with John Brown, an outspoken, charming Scottish highlander who was her devoted manservant ... also highly admired by her late husband, Prince Albert.
The Queen goes into mourning after the death of Prince Albert, and the Scotsman is the one who, by sheer guts and determination, brings her back to active life. As their friendship grows, Brown becomes the Queen's closest friend and confidante, resulting in personal and political ramifications for both.
The way the movie develops the friendship between the two main characters is exquisite in its timing and it appears the Queen and the commoner are indeed in love. Although the film never directly addresses the issue, Brown obviously adores his Queen and she defies convention many, many times to stand by and support him. Being an incurable romantic myself, I wish it had addressed the issue in more depth, but it was rather titillating to allow my imagination to run amok, forming my own conclusions.
This romantic drama is humorous in places, and is exquisitely shot. Sparkling, brilliant performances were given by Judi Dench as Queen Victoria, the woman behind an empire, and Billy Connolly as the robust John Brown who helped her live again, then risked his life for her on many occasions. Another outstanding performance was given by Antony Sher who portrayed Prime Minister Disraeli with cunning malice.
My heart went out to this beloved Queen, whom wagging tongues called Mrs. Brown, and her indomitable friend, Mr. Brown ... a heart-warming true story of friendship and loyalty, politics and betrayal.
Don't miss this outstanding movie.
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Movie Review: Victoria and John
Summary: 5 Stars
One imagines, I think, that it must be quite trying to live life not so much as a person, but as an institution; an icon - especially when this state of being isn't chosen, it's assigned. There's little room for being human, or experiencing other people as they really are, not simply as the version of themselves they must be when in The Presence. Deep, soul-rending mourning and this particular kind of status must make poor bedfellows indeed.
I should confess straight off that I am a rabid Anglophile and would be more than content to watch Dame Judi Dench read from the phone book. She could burn down my entire town and I'd applaud. With those biases admitted to, I should add that as I am well aware of them, I can and do step back from them in assessing this film.
But the result is the same. Such a wonderful movie. Talent abounds, the scenery is beautiful and Her Majesty is shown without her "modifier" - "Queen." Here we have glimpses into a woman named Victoria, a woman who has lost her most beloved husband. She, however, faces rather unusual circumstances. Rare, I would wager, is the widow who has Parliament clamouring for attention, a Prime Minister ever at her door, a cabinet, and a nation all wanting their share. What's a devastated queen/woman to do?
Find John Brown. When John Brown came to service at Balmoral after Albert's death, it was not the first time he had been in service. She first mentions him in her immaculate and lifelong journal several years prior to Albert's death. His treatment of her as a person, with flesh and feeling, coupled with her innate fondness for Highlanders - the Queen was very unlike most of her English subjects in that she was refreshingly devoid, for the most part, of prejudices based around nationality or religion - produce in her some of the very first moments of peace and "lightening of the spirit" in the wake of what I am sure can be called the greatest tragedy of her long life.
All the above it played out in inimitably talented hands, all across the board. Perfomances true and moving, landscapes sweeping and full of that beautifully moving and melancholy magic that is the vistas of the Scottish Highlands.
Long story long, my friends, buy it. Yesterday. 'Nuff said.
Movie Review: Highlanders are good for the health
Summary: 5 Stars
Prince Albert is dead and Queen Victoria (Dench) is inconsolable). The servants don't know what to do. No one can get her out of her mourning.
Because her husband was so fond of him, Victoria sends for John Brown (Billy Connolly), a Scotsman who was one of her husband's attendants. Being a stubborn Scot, he doesn't take 'no' for an answer and waits out in the courtyard until Her Majesty finally decides to go out on a pony ride. Gradually, they develop a friendship--or is it more? That's a question asked by historians and fans of the royal family throughout the years.
Meanwhile, there's a political struggle going on. The Prime Minister (Antony Sher) wants the Queen back in the reins. Bertie, the Prince of wales, (David Westhead) is anxious to take the reins from his Mum. Meanwhile, the rumors about the Queen and Brown are flying and as one pol says to another: "This country runs by talk..."
There's a lot of speculation both in the film and out about the relationship between Queen Victoria and John Brown. She was a favorite of mine and I honestly hope she did have some comfort after her husband's death.
Whatever the film is historically, it's an amazing costume drama from both what the characters wear and the landscape behind them. Dench and Connolly do a superlative job in their respective roles. Dame Judi has played two of Great Britain's queens to date and she's quite regal in both.
I've seen this film several times and every time I note something different. In this case, it's Archie Brown, John's younger brother who is played quite ably by none other than Gerard Butler.
Rebecca Kyle, July 2008
Movie Review: Outstanding movie.
Summary: 5 Stars
It is very seldom that I get to watch the movie of this quality. It is absolutely brilliant. This is a story of a unique friendship formed between two very unlike characters: Queen Victoria and her servant Mr. Brown. As the story developed I was completely absorbed by the lives of these two people, as if I was actually part of it rather then watching the film.
Story is incredibly well told (though I do wish filmmakers were not in such a rush to end it), cinematography is absolutely beautiful and as far as the historical part of the movie it was perfectly captured. And then there are actors involved in this movie.
I do not think that my knowledge of English language will allow me to fully describe superb talent of Judi Dench, which by all means is unmatched by anyone alive today. Her performance was absolutely flawless. Academy should be ashamed for not awarding her with an Oscar and choosing Helen Hunt's performance over hers. Not even a contest in my opinion.
As incredible as Judi Dench is I'm sure it is very hard to find costars that will not be completely overshadowed by her. But Billy Connelly filled the screen with his brilliant performance. Perfect chemistry between the two. And of course - Geoffrey Palmer who happens to be Judi's long time costar from BBC's "As Time Goes By" (which I think is one of the best TV comedies of all time). When you get so caught up in a movie that you forget it's not a real life you know that actors are doing an incredible job.
This is an exceptionally well made film, a stunning piece of cinematography. And I think it should be a part of any movie-lovers collection. It certainly is part of mine.