REVIEW: "Hyde Park on Hudson"

I thought, rather foolishly, that I would be able to watch "The Hobbit" on Christmas Day. Instead, I enjoyed my stroll to the theatre only to find it was sold out (and very busy) but along my 1.7 mile trek happened to pass the Cobble Hill Cinemas. I turned around and headed back home. On my return, I  thought, "What's playing there?"

Retracing my steps, I discovered a crowd like the one I encountered at the not-quite-megaplex for "Les Miserables" and "Django Unchained." Thankfully, "Hyde Park on Hudson" did not attract the same attention and I was able to settle in.

A curious film directed by Roger Michell, it tells the story of an affair between President Franklin D. Roosevelt (Bill Murray) and his sixth cousin, Margaret Suckley (Laura Linney). The story is built around Suckley's private journals and diaries which were discovered after her death in 1991. Up until then, there had been no evidence that an affair took place unlike Roosevelt's affair with Lucy Mercer during World War I.

Set in June 1939, Suckley is called to visit Roosevelt and provide him company at the family country estate in Hyde Park, NY at the insistence of FDR's mother. While FDR and Margaret, who's nickname is Daisy, grow closer, the major event to fall upon them is the visit by King George VI (Samuel West) and Queen Consort Elizabeth (Olivia Colman). This was the first time a British monarch had visited the United States - ever.

Roosevelt's mother, Sara Delano (Elizabeth Wilson), and Eleanor Roosevelt (Olivia Williams) duel over the control of many of the activities of the house including details of the state visit. One item of contention is the famous serving of hot dogs to royalty that Ms. Delano finds completely unfathomable. In the film, the hot dog is a matter of great discussion between the King and Queen. While the matter is very serious to all the parties involved, it is very humorous to watch. (The menu of that picnic can be found here.)

The film is balanced between the story of the romance between FDR and Suckley and the almost separate movie of the royal visit but I never once got the sense that it didn't work. To me it plays very much like a diary entry except that there's a small stretch there where Suckley has no presence which does take a bit away from her as an observer. There is also the growing relationship between FDR and the King. One scene after a dinner, the King tells FDR that he was not wanted by the people. FDR's responds, "I did not know they voted for that."

This is a quiet, curious, enjoyable movie to watch and while not nearly as compelling to view as "The King's Speech," the performances are very good and you believe these characters as they are. Murray is really impressive as FDR. And while Samuel West will draw comparisons to Colin Firth's George, it is truly of no matter. I can't leave out Ms. Linney - she is wonderful to watch.

For my part, the hobbyist historian in me will want to see this again. And I hope you do too.

"Hyde Park on Hudson"
Director: Roger Michell
Writer: Richard Nelson
Starring: Bill Murray, Laura Linney, Olivia Williams, Samuel West, Olivia Colman, Elizabeth Marvel, Elizabeth Wilson