Film Preview: Victoria and Abdul (2017)

Page Revisions:

(June 4, 2017) Original

Release Date:

September 22, 2017

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “Queen Victoria strikes up an unlikely friendship with a young Indian clerk named Abdul Karim.”

Poster Rating: C+ / C-

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Review: (#1) The light, golden and green color scheme is visually dazzling, but the overall design is rudimentary at best. (#2) Then, we have something wholly disappointing. What appears to be two figures sitting for a portrait, it lacks backgrond detail and feels utterly dull.

Trailer Rating: B-

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Review: Forced humor, careless cutting, and displaying an unnecessary desire to reveal everything about the film and its protagonists. It all pulls together into a trailer that leaves no mystery and showcases little information that will make it feel like a must-see event.

Oscar Prospects:

There is no doubt that Judi Dench will be in the competition again with her latest take on a British monarch. Her first nomination (Mrs. Brown) was for playing Queen Victoria. Her second nomination was for playing Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love, for which she won her only Oscar. Now, she returns to the role that netted her first nod, 20 years later playing Victoria at a more advanced age. It should be catnip for her fans. She won’t win, but she’s likely to be nominated for it, though a win is highly doubtful. Directed by Stephen Frears, who helped another actress win an Oscar for playing Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren), she could be in line for a win, but the competition will not be easy and I suspect a second Oscar won’t be in the offing for something that looks this light.