Victoria & Abdul

Victoria & Abdul

Focus Features etc.

15 September 2017

Historical Comedy
DVD
C-

This tries to offer both splendour and humour but fails at both.  It's based on Shrabani Basu's book Victoria & Abdul: The True Story of the Queen's Closest Confidant.  Stephen Frears directed.

Tulip Fever

Tulip Fever

Worldview Entertainment etc.

1 September 2017

Historical Drama, Romance

DVD
B-

Deborah Moggach's adaptation, with Tom Stoppard, of her own novel is implausible but held my attention throughout.  Justin Chadwick directed, and I rejected two of his other movies, but I did give The First Grader a B- as well.

Six Minutes to Midnight

Six Minutes to Midnight

Lionsgate etc.

25 September 2020

Historical Drama

DVD
C+

I was drawn in by the concept but the movie got increasingly melodramatic as it went on.  Director Andy Goddard, star Eddie Izzard, and Celyn Jones, who plays Corporal Willis, co-wrote.

Nine (2009)

Nine (2009)

The Weinstein Company etc.

December 25, 2009

Musical, Historical Drama

DVD
D+

A reminder of why I don't like most modern musicals, although not as bad as La La Land.  Rob Marshall directed, nine years before Mary Poppins Returns.

J. Edgar

J.  Edgar

Warner Bros.

November 11, 2011

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

I don't really understand director Eastwood's decision to make the already off-putting subject of Hoover more so with the way this is shot and DiCaprio's odd voice and old-age makeup.  But the Library of Congress looked cool, so up a notch for that.

Iris

Iris

Miramax etc.

18 January 2002

Romance, Historical Drama

DVD

C-

Zigzagging through the life of Iris Murdoch, based on her husband John Bayley's book Elegy for Iris.  Richard Eyre directed and co-wrote the adaptation.

Chocolat

Chocolat
Miramax
December 15, 2000
Historical Drama
DVD
C+

I definitely would've rated this higher at the time I saw it, almost twenty years ago, but this time it felt very cliched, if mildly entertaining.  My favorite aspect was the use of color, from shades of chocolate brown to Vianne's signature red.  This is based on the Joanne Harris novel and directed by Lasse Hallström.  Note that I'm not using the "romance" tag, because Depp's character doesn't show up until almost halfway through, and this is proof that two attractive people (him and Binoche) will not necessarily have chemistry together.