Hyde Park on Hudson
Published June 11, 2013
Film info
- Title Hyde Park on Hudson
- Director Roger Michell
- Year 2012
- Run time 1hr 34m
- Genres Comedy, Drama, History
- Tagline One weekend would unite two great nations... after cocktails of course
As Great Britain faces an imminent war with Germany, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor, invite the King and Queen of England for a weekend at their home in upstate New York. But during the first-ever visit of a reigning British monarch to America, international affairs must be juggled with the complexities of FDR’s domestic establishment, as wife, mother, and mistresses all conspire to make the royal trip an unforgettable one. Hyde Park of Hudson is a charming and fresh look at true events and the mysteries of love and friendship, from the acclaimed director of Notting Hill.
Live Blog
| Time | Comment |
|---|---|
| 2:03 | Ooh, another film with nice cars in. |
| 2:57 | Being fifth or sixth cousins with the president is a bit rubbish, it’s the sort of relationship no one ever really believes… or can fathom! |
| 3:53 | “She said everyone else was away.” Way to make him feel special. |
| 5:41 | That’s an excellent magnifying glass. Long handle. |
| 10:17 | Not much time to relax as President. You must know that when you take on the job. |
| 15:15 | I suppose you have to be at least fifth cousins to do that kind of thing. |
| 20:32 | Treading on some toes there, over headache tablets. |
| 23:58 | I don’t really understand why the President is having to hide out in his own stables. |
| 25:48 | Yay, Olivia Colman! |
| 30:57 | “That’s… a field.” Oh, the awkward conversation. |
| 32:49 | If you spill cocktail all over your hand, you smell a bit like an alcoholic. Not that I have any experience in that kind of spilling. |
| 37:50 | Good grief, the “mother” is brilliantly dramatic. |
| 41:29 | These servants seem to get paid for earwigging and peeping through doors. |
| 48:06 | Being described as a “strong person” is not necessarily a compliment. |
| 53:21 | The two most powerful men in the world, having a cigarette and opening their hearts. |
| 55:23 | “Why are you smiling, are you drunk?” |
| 56:35 | The King is the worst liar ever. |
| 1:03:19 | Brilliant security guy… foiled by a bush. |
| 1:10:19 | This must be such a difficult time to live through, no one ever seems to say what they really mean. |
| 1:13:34 | I love “I wish I did!” as a response to “You know what I mean.” |
| 1:23:29 | My god, I wouldn’t like everyone taking photos of me eating. |
| 1:23:54 | So, one hot dog could be the key to world peace. |
| 1:28:40 | You wouldn’t get that from media photographers today, waiting until he was ready for a photo. |
Conclusions
The trailer for this one mostly intrigued me because it had Olivia Colman in it, and because it looked like a different role for Bill Murray. Couldn’t really work out what the point of the story was from the trailer and I can’t pretend to be too much up on American history, but when we wanted something nice and relaxing to watch, this seemed the perfect option.
It was better than I thought, a lot quieter, slightly awkward, quite moody, but interesting. We had a bit of a moment realising that the King and Queen were the same as those in the King’s Speech and that was fun. It’s not our normal kind of film at all, but it was gently amusing and perfect for our low-key requirements.
**Rating: **4/5
Rating: 4 / 5