Monday, December 10, 2012

Hyde Park on Hudson Review - 2½ Stars

I always want to see Bill Murray in whatever movie he makes, so I very much looked forward to his portrait of Franklin Roosevelt in “Hyde park on Hudson.”  The story takes us to 1939 and the first ever visit to America by England’s King and Queen.  This focus gives us a touch of “The King’s Speech”–remember the one about the King who took over for his brother and had trouble with a stutter.   Anyway, that visit mixes with the memories of FDR’s cousin Daisy, who evidentially was one of three women carrying on an affair with the President.  Laura Linney plays the cousin and she is appropriately shy and retiring until she gets in the car with FDR and he pulls her hand over to his lap.  More than a few scenes in this drama seem a bit icky. Much of this movie comes from speculation.  Murray manages to capture the essence of FDR without going into a strict impersonation.  The Photography looks beautiful.  My wife loved the movie.  I found it a little less than the sum of its parts.  Does it deliver what it promises?  Didn’t quite for me.  Is it entertaining?  Lovely at times.  Is it worth the price of admission?  Not quite.