Mrs Brown (1997)

I gave it a 7.5 out of 10

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

I really wanted to see this movie, as I love Judi Dench, and when I saw it was going to show on TV, I knew I had to see it. The result is a very beautiful, touching and brilliantly acted film. Also excellent are the intelligent, sophisticated screenplay and sensitive direction. What made it so beautiful was how it was filmed; beautiful cinematography, scenery, costumes you name it. The music is soothing, pleasant and tender, and the story is somewhat tragic and compelling. And the acting is outstanding, Judi Dench is absolutely mesmerising as Queen Victoria and Billy Connolly was a huge surprise as John Brown, giving a restrained and very moving performance, proving he can do serious roles while being thoroughly decent at comedy as well. Of the supporting performances, I thought the best came from Anthony Sher as Disraeli, and Geoffrey Palmer is also great. Overall, topped with a poignant ending, Mrs Brown is a wonderful film. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Dame Judi Dench is "Mrs. Brown" - that is, Queen Victoria, and Billy Connolly is John Brown in this 1997 film, based on fact, of Queen Victoria's relationship with a Scottsman, John Brown, who becomes her servant. The excellent script is by Jeremy Brock and the director is John Maddon, who does a wonderful job.The widowed, deeply grieving Queen Victoria has basically retired from public life when John Brown, who served her late husband, appears on the scene to help draw her out. Each day, he stands outside with her horse, even though she refuses to ride. Eventually she rides again, and also takes walks. Attracted to his lack of formality, the Queen becomes extremely fond of Brown, making him the object of jealousy at court.Both the stars are magnificent in their roles, and the atmosphere and costumes are perfect. Dame Judi Dench is a queen who is deeply aware of her position and protocol, but also is a vulnerable, sad woman, guilty that her newfound friendship is betraying her husband's memory. One can see her being drawn out slowly by John Brown, and finally enjoying the deep friendship. Connolly is great - tough, uncompromising, and fiercely protective of his Queen, though he realizes after a point that she needs to return to public life.In history, John Brown and Queen Victoria were suspected of being more than friends, thus the name "Mrs. Brown," and in a diary was found the report of a deathbed claim by Rev. Norman Macleod, that he presided over Queen Victoria's marriage to John Brown. This really hasn't been proved, but the Queen was buried with a lock of Brown's hair, his photo, and his mother's wedding ring, as well as Prince Albert's robe. Most historians feel it was only a friendship and point out that after Brown's death, she became close to an Indian servant in much the same way. She obviously needed a confidant after her husband died.The cinematography is breathtaking. A truly beautiful film, highly recommended.

Mrs Brown is a movie my mom has almost killed me over, lol, just joking. But she wanted me to find it on DVD, I could never find it, but I did find it at Hollywood Video and just told my mom about it, she freaked out and screamed for me to rent it. So I rented it and put her at peace, lol, but anyways, we watched it together this afternoon and I have to say that I didn't see the dramatic deal with the movie, my mom actually said it didn't seem as good as before either. But I wouldn't deem it as a bad movie at all, it was actually made very well with some fantastic and very distinguished actors of our time.Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's marriage was one of the happiest in royal history, so when Albert passed away, Vicotiria is devastated. The queen is in ultimate mourning and England is not pleased with the way she is handling it. But when a Scottish horse servant, John Brown, comes to help her, they become best friends and eventually lead into something more scandalous leading England her majesty's court to question her abilities as their queen.Mrs Brown is very well made and has a very strong cast that keep the movie together. It's a movie I would recommend if you love time pieces. It didn't thrill me, but the story was very interesting and wonderful in the fact that you got to see the human side of Queen Victoria. That it's possible to question emotions and a sense of duty, something most of us face in a life time.7/10

When "Mrs. Brown" came out, it seems like Judi Dench wasn't a household name in the United States - although she had appeared in a number of famous movies by then. Ever since the movie came out, she has received five Oscar nominations (one of which was a win). Here she plays Queen Victoria, having a fling with Scotsman John Brown (Billy Connolly). Naturally, this creates some suspicion among the people in her inner circle.One thing that I felt while watching the movie is that it must be weird being in Queen Victoria's place, what with the way that people always have to follow her around everywhere that she goes. But either way, it's an interesting look at a certain part of history.As for the whole thing about Benjamin Disraeli, I actually have a connection there. My 2nd-great grandparents immigrated to Canada when Disraeli convinced Queen Victoria to allow the Jews to immigrate there to escape the pogroms in Eastern Europe.