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.

Florence Foster Jenkins

Florence Foster Jenkins

BBC Films

May 6, 2016

Historical Drama 

DVD
C+

I saw this in the theater at the time, but today it wasn't as funny or moving as I remembered (I probably would've given it a B- then), although still entertaining enough to finish.  I think part of the problem is that director Stephen Frears never quite finds the right tone, or blend of tones.