Hyde Park on Hudson

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isla s 09/04/2022 I found this film to be a bit slow and rambling and while the characters were interesting, there wasn't enough obvious plot direction or development to keep me really glued. I'm a big fan of Bill Murray and I thought his performance as FDR wasn't bad - he comes across as a bit of an eccentric but a relatively laidback one. I also enjoyed seeing Olivia Colman playing Queen Elizabeth - there is a somewhat amusing aspect of it whereby the British royals don't know quite what to make of the different, American culture they find themselves faced with. There is definitely an element of pompousness present as well, I felt. I believe the film is based on a true story, if but loosely - I'd be more interested to read about the real story, than see a semi fake reconstruction. Overall the film was a bit too bland for my personal taste - not utterly unwatchable but a little plodding, twee even, if anything. However, if you enjoy period/costume dramas and like Olivia Colman and/or Bill Murray then you may enjoy this, its a fairly average watch but thats about it, in my opinion. I did wonder if some of the dialogue was meant in a tongue in cheek way but I suppose we'll never know. I also felt that the music (classical/orchestral pieces)was a bit distractingly loud at times as well, as if the filmmakers were desperately trying to make the viewers feel utterly taken in and absorbed by the film and I found that off-putting personally. See more William L 06/05/2020 Based on flawed historical fiction and a romance that feels uncompelling (and far less interesting than the FDR/George VI narrative), Hyde Park on Hudson certainly warrants some of the universal critical backlash. However, several engaging scenes and Murray's own performance (in which he actually acts rather than simply telling jokes in a droll voice) redeem the film in part. (2.5/5) See more 02/08/2019 Intriiguing; expertly written See more Stephen J 11/17/2018 Hmm.. I mean good... But really? It's still pretty good. It has a different look later on in the film during nighttime woods scenes, adding drama. See more 06/18/2018 It can be difficult to translate the experience of watching a play to traditional film. The strength of the story is tested when it changes mediums. In the case of "Hyde Park on Hudson," it may have been a benefit that I knew it had been a play first, even though I had not seen the play. I watched it as a play, so it wasn't as poorly received by me as it appears to have been by others. Maybe it is my generation, but seeing Bill Murray continue to take on roles like this does my heart good. While I can't say he did an admirable job of portraying a president I've never seen in social situations, he definitely holds his own in the company of veteran Laura Linney. The history of the story of "Daisy" and her special relationship with FDR has been challenged, so knowing how valid the story is becomes important if the reason for watching is to understand history. However, the historical components that include the King and Queen of England are known and add to perceived authenticity of the overall story. Also, given Daisy's length of service with the FDR library and museum years after FDR's death, one can make an assumption that a good portion is probably true. However, the blunt nature in which their relationship begins makes the viewer have to adjust rather suddenly in ascertaining exactly what the point of the movie is, which I'm sure is the reason for many viewers being turned off by the film. Once past that early scene, though, I was able to appreciate the story for what it was. Yes, it could have gone a more traditional route and helped establish more depth around just who Daisy was, but again, this was a play. Characters just don't often get constructed that way. There is little time to do them justice and to have done that for the film may have been perceived as tarnishing the source material. While it isn't a bad film, one has to question why it was deemed worthy of translating to film. It didn't accomplish enough or have the historical strength required to be a story worthy of the big screen. See more 03/27/2017 Historical drama or comedy doesn't suit this film. It's best viewed as a historical vignette. The aesthetic and acting is good, but the pace is slow and socially anachronistic at times. The nature of FDR and Eleanor's relationship(s) contrasted a little harshly with the story of the Hyde Park picnic, but Murray and Linney played their parts well. Olivia Coleman was also good in her supporting role. See more Read all reviews

Hyde Park on Hudson

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