Yes, I watch this movie way too much. But it is just
so good. If anything, you have to love it for the costumes. It totally deserved
the Oscar it got. The textures are rich and details leap out at you, immersing
you in Queen Victoria’s world.
The story is wildly engaging with political tug-of-war, romance,
and moments of subtle introspection. Emily Blunt is flawless as the queen,
making you adore her and pity her, while recognizing her faults and sharing her
triumphs. And Rupert Friend as Albert is the perfect leading man, charming and
steadfast, adoring and chiding. The supporting roles are equally stellar.
The film stands out with dramatic cinematography and
creative storytelling. I still get chills when the camera refocuses down a line
of hundreds of drinking glasses at the king’s birthday dinner. I feel the sheer
scale of royal life and empathize with Victoria, with the weight she carries as
sovereign of it all.
I can’t get enough of Victoria and Albert on screen. Emily
Blunt and Rupert Friend share real chemistry in the movie, in the wonderful
restrained manner of period films. But it is their moments of genuine
togetherness, when it feels like you have viewed something private and special,
that make me love this movie. It is natural. And that’s what makes The Young Victoria more than worthwhile.
Fun fact: Julian Fellows of Downton Abbey fame wrote the screenplay. I didn’t recognize it at
all for being his work. It feels so different.
