Hyde Park on Hudson (2012)

Must See Movie...

Best movie of this year hands down!

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

A lot of praises were given to Bill Murray and his acting as President Franklin D. Roosevelt. I do not see that. While not hurting in any way, he was not convinced as a president with power and responsibility. This light-hearted film would not be so interesting if FDR was not a part of it. So the failure to makes him adequately presidential and FDR-like did hurt the film's believability to the degree of discard. No actor and actress had hurt the film either. The story went on as it was supposed to be. Beginning and end. Nothing was left to remember or to revisit. Now if the FDR's character was made to be closer to his real-life forceful personalities, the love story would have been well-remembered and imprinted. Even the caption right before the end credit could have brought tears to our eyes. The second failure of this film is the inability to link Daisy's role in the life of FDR and the now historic visit by Great Britain's royal couple. Two stories were presented quite emotionally separate and I think it is indeed a missed opportunity. The royal presence, in its glory and awkwardness, could have been used to shine a light on Daisy a common lady loved and in love with the US president. More details must be inserted to combine Franklin the man as well as a president in love. Missy's strange sacrifice should have been stressed further as we would understand much more of FDR lust or love. And the mother? Told in several ways to depict her as controlling and yet understanding, but, strangely so, she was not a part in FDR and his woman-inducing life. Same as Eleanor Roosevelt's character, though skilfully depicted by Olivia Williams, failing at revealing more depth. As far as films about FDR is concerned, my vote is higher for the works like "Warm Springs" or "Into The Storm".

It's almost a bit like a history lesson. While "The Kings Speech" did get nominated for Oscars and was a huge success, not the same can be said about this movie. Although it does have two of the same main "characters" in it. Played a different set of actors of course. And then you also have Bill Murray. The ever reliable and very funny man, who's playing a charismatic, while disabled President.It does check many boxes and it is pretty to look at. But it doesn't feel like something that will appeal to a huge crowd of people. The "story" is very limited and while the end/event is something that might get a little excitement out of you, the rest of the movie seems to lack that passion.

How would I choose to describe "Hyde Park on Hudson" in one word? Easy. I would say horrendous. Horrendous acting, which very much surprised me being an overall fan of Bill Murray. I feel he reached to clasp the true essence of FDR... but failed. Horrendous storyline, I mean, how could an hour and a half visit by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (who were far better played by the amazing Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter in "The Kings Speech") be the least bit interesting? Horrendous characters, none were the least bit likable, and this movie butchered figures like Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, who both had bad qualities. Along with many other horrendous features of this film, I conclude to say the following: DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE!

I enjoyed this movie, it is entertaining mostly, but as I watched it something just didn't seem right. Later I read some comments by a FDR biographer and it cleared up a few things. An excerpt: " The story is ludicrous - any reading of Geoffrey Ward's book, "Closest Companion," which tells their story through her letters and diaries, indicates no intimate relationship. I have been writing and lecturing on FDR for decades and ...I have no doubt that this film is more of a parody and its conclusions should not be taken with any seriousness." So in truth they have taken a few real people and real events and made a movie which stretches the truth often, and sometimes simply invents things just to try to make it more interesting. FDR really did have a cousin Daisy, and they really did develop a close friendship, but the alleged affair appears to simply be made up. Plus a number of other things portrayed in this movie.The King and Queen of England really did visit him in 1939 at his Hyde Park on the Hudson retreat in New York, but what is depicted in the movie is more of a parody of them and their visit.Still for the most part I found it to be an enjoyable and entertaining movie as long as you don't take it too seriously. Bill Murray is FDR and Laura Linney is his 6th cousin Daisy. Olivia Williams seemed very appropriate as Eleanor Roosevelt.