From the celebrated director of the hit French language film C.R.A.Z.Y. comes a tale that is admittedly a little easier to watch than the denser royal films of late, namely Elizabeth: The Golden Age and The Queen.
The Young Victoria Synopsis
Destined to be Queen of England once reigning King William (Jim Broadbent) passes on, young Victoria (Emily Blunt, The Wolfman) has been kept behind closed doors since early childhood, sequestered, in order to both protect her and also ensure her survival in order to maintain the royal bloodline.
Having little say over her own life plans thus far, it doesn't take long for Victoria to grow a particular brand of hatred for her overbearing overseer, the scheming Sir John Conroy (Mark Strong, Sherlock Holmes) who, along with Victoria's equally manipulative mother (Natasha Richardson), is seeking to use the young princess' position to assume power of his own, leading to wealth and a higher social station in British society.
Repeatedly refusing to sign a regency order which would strip her of royal power so to grant the same to her guardian, Victoria sees her life change overnight, when her dear uncle William passes away, instantly making her Queen of England.
As coronation time approaches, many new players are introduced, each with his own designs on the queen in order to acquire further power for themselves through her inexperience. Very much like a chess game, Belgian King Leopold (Thomas Kretchmann), Prime Minister Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany) and the nefarious John Conroy all hope to capitalize on the new rule of Victoria, all the better to place themselves in position of power later on, should she fail in her royal duties.
When King Leopold's nephew Albert (Rupert Friend) arrives at court seeking friendship with the young princess (later Queen) at his uncle's behest, strong feelings emerge in Victoria, having finally met someone with whom she can share her opinions, and interests.
Both resent the many pressures which come with the nature of their roles in royalty, and so the two form a bond which eventually blooms into a romance, leading Queen Victoria to ask for his hand in marriage, much to the chagrin of Lord Melbourne, who had been considering a similar future as royal consort.
As Victoria decides to follow her heart and marry her true love, she discovers how fickle the common people can be, and so she must find a way to rule justly, without being taken for granted by those who follow her every move, political or otherwise.
The Young Victoria Overall Analysis
This excellent tale based on the well-documented life of the titular monarch has every element going in its favor. Beautifully photographed, filled with exquisite costumes and with all scenes shot in resplendent locations, it's sure to become a well loved addition to the canon of existing movies based on British royal life.
A very gifted cast of known British talent elevates the movie to Oscar-level, with each seasoned actor pitching in to make for an engaging story, though dramatized for cinematic effect.
The always enjoyable Mark Strong shines early on in the movie, playing yet another brand of villain, with his ire at having missed out on the best things in British life quietly steaming from behind his proper demeanor. As the audience comes to hate his very presence onscreen, we automatically know he once again succeeded in providing a solid performance. The same goes for Paul Bettany, whose Lord Melbourne acts as both the voice of reason and the symbol of political ambition, all neatly wrapped in a dashing mature supporting role.
Emily Blunt holds her own as the title character, however given the caliber of actors she appears with, it's easy to lose sight of her in certain scenes, as their mere presence often outshine her own. Ditto Rupert Friend, whose muted performance could have used a bit more energy.
Much praise is to be given to director Vallée, a gifted French Canadian filmmaker whose past films in his native Quebec have made him a sought-after commodity in the business. How such an unlikely fellow could so masterfully achieve a period piece of this magnitude when so many native British directors could have risen to the occasion, is a sure sign of the man's potential as he directs further projects.
The Young Victoria DVD Special Features
As is expected, the majority of the extras included here mostly deal with the production of elaborate costumes, the intricate recreation of major events like the Royal Coronation, Royal Wedding and all other elements related to the reign of Queen Victoria in real life.
The Final Word on The Young Victoria
This film should appeal to fans of the genre and newcomers alike. If anything, The Young Victoria makes for a more accessible viewing experience than stuffier films of the genre, without the dense plotting of Shekhar Kapur's Elizabeth films or the stuffiness of Stephen Frears' The Queen. If anything, this latest film might in fact encourage some younger viewers to pick up a book or two on the subject, after having become so involved in this great period piece.
4 out of 5 for an excellent script, a top notch cast of British greats and a masterful directing job by an unlikely filmmaker.
Dominic Messier - Dominic Messier is a Toronto-based Film & TV writer, Sci-Fi TV and Film Dramas Topic Editor, and creator of PopCultureLandscape.com
