God Save The Queen

A couple Friday’s ago I was suppose to be sipping delicious hot cocoa and admiring Lake Michigan from a close friend's apartment. Maybe even gracing a dance floor later in the evening…but than Winter Storm Decima blew into our lives and dumped powdery white crap all over my house, car, and streets…

Needless to say, I spent my Friday night at home, gazing at the pretty snow, and mentally preparing for the brutal cold that was to come after the 7 inches of powdery white nonsense.

As most people during a snowstorm, I snuggled up in bed with a glass of wine and decided I would peruse Netflix. What I did not realize is that I would be taking a trip back in time to 1950s Great Britain, and embarking on a journey unlike any other.

Most of you know I have a strange affinity for all things British…okay, maybe just Eddie Redmayne, but either way I was stunned at the sheer greatness that is Netflix’s The Crown. I was transported to a different time. Lavish costumes, gorgeous jewelry, bewitching language, and my goodness their posture is exquisite. The Crown gives us a first look at what it was like for Princess Elizabeth to unexpectedly be thrust onto the thrown, grooming her to become Britain’s longest standing monarch since Queen Victoria I.

I know nothing of British history. I have no real knowledge of what purpose the monarchy holds in the United Kingdom. I find it funny that the world is so enthralled with a family that is relatively quiet; an enigma. What drew me in about this ten hour historical fiction drama is that it is a cinematic masterpiece. The colors are enticing. The language is passive, lavish, and devilishly charming. The sets are larger than life; immaculate, yet dusty enough to show the age that comes with the British monarchy.

Opening with an epic title song orchestrated by Hans Zimmer—The Crown lures you in with a crescendo so sweepingly powerful, you have to keep watching. Keeping it fascinating, the show, though fictional, gives us a first hand look into the mystery that is the House of Windsor. How did this shy, young women end up becoming the longest serving queen Britain has ever seen? The script is weak and I often found myself resorting to Wikipedia (yes, I use Wikipedia) to give me background on unfamiliar members trouncing in and out of scenes, and how they were connected with the royal family. 

What makes up for holes in the script is the stellar cast the show has put together. Claire Foy is stunning as the young queen. Mousey and timid, she portrays a young women fighting for her identity between queen and wife, sister and motherhood. Foy wears this struggle permanently on her face, in her posture, and through her actions. She lives and breathes the challenges this unexpected crowning has brought upon her and her new family.

Though Foy is wonderful, Matt Smith and Vanessa Kirby steal the show; Smith playing the dashing and contemptuous Prince Philip and Kirby playing the charmingly whimsical Princess Margaret. Both embody the breadth of emotions one may go through when their loved one is now their rule maker with ease. Smith is endearing and incredibly antsy, showing much reluctancy to the crown. I applaud the writers for bringing Prince Philip to life through fabulous language, complete with off-color remarks and disdain for what the crown embodies. At one point going as far to say him and the Queen are a coat of paint on “rusty old banger." Kirby brings to life the fun and free Princess, who enjoys all things lavish, but longs for all the things she can’t have. She embodies the brazen princess who, ripe with envy, unleashes her jealously through a series of bold remarks to a party full of country leaders, only encouraging her warped sense of self.

Of course, none of them compare to John Lithgow’s towering, methodical portrayal of Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Larger than life, mad, and domineering, Lithgow is Churchill to a tee. He embodies a crotchety old man, weathered by war and politics, fighting to stay relevant. His performance is deeply frustrating, yet mesmerizing. Lithgow certainly put the time in to perfect Churchill’s cadence, and extremely rough appearance after leading a country through many victories.

Source: Parade.com

More like mini-movies, this show lacks the arcs found in most television shows. The Crown may be vexing for those who enjoy a story arc that creates no hesitation to press play as soon as an episode is done. I respected the decision to abandon story arcs, but do believe storylines were muddled along the way. The show is already spending close to $100 million pounds (approximately $120 million dollars) to assemble this opulent production, what is a few more pounds to make sure we know the entire backstory. Or is it your intent to let my mind wander?

None the less, this tantalizing drama draws you in until the very last scene. Allowing you to explore a world you may never have been able to dream of. Often skimming over the more important details, I applaud this fictional historical drama for giving us the opportunity to be a fly on the wall in one of the world’s most coveted places…

Buckingham Palace.

Superb, A Hidden Gem, "Birdsong" Will Make Your Heart Sing

Under appreciated and superb should define Eddie Redmayne’s performance in the 2012 BBC two-part television drama Birdsong. Redmayne’s acting is spot on as the love-lost and heartbroken, Stephen Wraysford, who is reliving his romantic escapades with the alluring and alluding Isabelle Azaire (Clémence Poésy) during the summer of 1910 in Amiens, France.

Based off the novel of the same title by Sebastian Faulks, the film interweaves the past with the present by offering flashbacks of Wraysford’s passionate relationship with Isabelle and his current life in the first World War. Wraysford uses his wild and vivid imagination to his advantage as a means to escape the horrifying war that has haunted and hardened him.

Beautifully directed by Philip Martin, the war scenes are picturesque and accurate, depicting perfectly the mazing trenches and barren land that was once decorated landscape, ravaged by war. Martin offers stunning contrast throughout the film. Wraysford’s flashbacks give way to bright and optimistic beauty compared to the desolate and matte feelings of World War I. Everything from costume to location is enchanting, yet realistic.

But Martin is far from the real showstopper. Redmayne dominated his performance, displaying such lust, love, loss and heartache. Using few words, Redmayne captures a million with just one glance at Isabelle. His performance is passionate and emotional. Whether he is captivatingly seducing his paramour or protecting his troop, Redmayne acts with fervor that should be revered. Though the character arc could have posed a challenge when filming out of sequence, it proved to be a feat Redmayne could conquer. Capturing with finesse the boyish charm of a young and enamored Wraysford, to a bitter, tight-lipped lieutenant during the war; recognition is in order for the young man’s acting abilities.

The story itself is enthralling because it is this fiery love story encapsulated by this treacherous war that took millions of young men’s lives during the early 1900s. The scenes are exquisitely woven together like a handmade tapestry, giving us the perfect blend of romance and scorn. The heart goes from feeling so warm it might burst to quickly emptying every bit of blood it might have had left, leaving you empty and hoping something soon will come along to reinvigorate your soul. It is a tale of relationships and how the best one’s get you through the toughest times. 

Jack Firebrace (Joseph Mawle) and his undying love for his ill son are just another great example of how relationships truly are the fuel driving this film. Firebrace and Wraysford find their stories intertwined all the way to the end. And even though it is never clearly defined, the two of them find a deep appreciation and admiration for each other. The friendship helps to remind viewers that Wraysford still, deep inside, has a heart and Firebrace has someone to lean on in a time of need, finding an odd comfort in Wraysford. The two men find something to live for in each other, which is an extraordinary gift.

Maybe written off as another boring period drama, or because it was a part of Masterpiece Classic, is why people refuse to check this film out. Yes, it is a part of public broadcasting, but that is no reason to turn the other cheek. This film is a hidden gem with formidable acting by Redmayne and Mawle, as well as wonderfully directed by Martin. It is a beautifully written and performed tale that will leave your heart swelling so much it will ache.