Saturday it was southwest to "A Single Man" (Colin Firth was robbed last night at the Golden Globes, I don't care how good Jeff Bridges was.) and Sunday north to "The Young Victoria". After previously cursing Rockford for it's lack of film variety, I do have to admit that it is quite conveniently located between Chicago and Madison. I'm a glass half full kind of girl. :-)
So anyway, The Young Victoria. Oh, how I adore a good costume drama. Seriously, any time period, any subject matter, if they are dressed authentically I'm all about it. Cultural history is endlessly fascinating to me. Put them in costume and then tell me about how they loved each other......brilliant, and it was. Where Saturday's viewing was constrained, quiet, and deeply emotional. Sunday's was huge, historical, overwhelming in detail. I adored it.
Emily Blunt, who I have always enjoyed, was really wonderful as Victoria. Rupert Friend (who I first fell in love with in "Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont" and is a must-see if you haven't) was the perfect Albert, conflicted, surprised to feel genuine affection, and then completely in love with Victoria. Theirs was an epic time in England's history and an epic love. At the end of the film they tell us that the two were together for twenty years and had nine children. Albert died at age 42 and every morning for the rest of Victoria's life (she died at 81) she had her maids lay his clothes out to honor him. That choked me up a bit.
There is a good bit of political maneuvering and were I better student of English history I would have enjoyed it more, though I was more than able to ignore the who-is-who-and-why to enjoy what they were wearing. :-) Still, it was a beautiful story about a young queen and the love of her life. You really can't ask for more than that.
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