tMF | The Movie-Fanatic

Is this Emily Blunt's year? I really hope so... Even though this is also the year fellow British actress Carey Mulligan (via An Education) made her magnificent acting known outside of the UK. So how was Blunt's acting as the young Victoria? Is the movie Oscar-worthy? Is her performance Oscar-worthy? Says Empire:

An elegant, entertaining, informative picture with a gallery of vivid supporting turns, this provisionally crowns the winning Blunt as a Brit-pic star - but it skimps a bit on the bodice-ripping, blood and thunder.

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A more generous review from Digital Spy follows:

There's something about donning a Queen's crown that brings out the best in actresses. Cate Blanchett, Helen Mirren and Judi Dench have thrived as monarchs, and now it's the turn of Emily Blunt to take on an iconic British ruler. Blaming her "sly eyes" for constantly being cast as bad girls, The Young Victoria offers Blunt the opportunity for a change in direction as a free-spirited idealist embarking on a tender romance. She's so captivating in this role that it will likely turn her into a fully-fledged movie star. [ read more ]

However, a number of the more prestigious online publications in the UK gave the movie bad reviews... Blunt was fantastic in The Devil Wears Prada and she was so good in My Summer of Love. She's quite a consistent performer and if this new movie is not going to give her enough Oscar buzz, then what a disappointment...

Blunt's Acting career so far: Emily Blunt's career ascended to international fame after she starred as Isolda opposite Alex Kingston in Boudica (2003) TV series. A year later she won critical acclaim for her breakout performance as Tamsin, a well-educated, cynical and deceptive 16-year-old beauty in My Summer of Love (2004), a story of two lonely girls from the opposite ends of the social heap. Emily Blunt and her co-star Natalie Press shared an Evening Standard British Film award for Most Promising Newcomer. In 2005 she spent a few months in Australia filming Irresistible (2006) with Susan Sarandon and Sam Neill. Blunt gave an impressive performance as Mara, a cunning young destroyer who acts crazy and surreptitiously provokes paranoia in others. She also continued her work on British television, starring as Natasha in Stephen Poliakoff's Gideon's Daughter (2005) (TV) opposite Bill Nighy, a role that won her a 2007 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role.

Emily Blunt is curently ranked #4 in the Top 50 Hottest Young Actresses list.

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What the movie is all about: 1837. VICTORIA (17) (Emily Blunt) is the object of a royal power struggle. Her uncle, KING WILLIAM (Jim Broadbent) is dying and Victoria is in line for the throne. Everyone is vying to win her favor. However Victoria is kept from the court by her overbearing mother, THE DUCHESS OF KENT (Miranda Richardson), and her ambitious advisor, CONROY (Mark Strong). Victoria hates them both. Her only friend is her doting governess, LEHZEN (Jeanette Hain), who is seemingly as untrustworthy as the rest. Victoria's handsome cousin, ALBERT (Rupert Friend) is invited to visit by her mother. He's also the nephew of her Uncle, KING LEOPOLD OF BELGIUM (Thomas Kretschmann). It's obvious that Albert has been coached to win her hand. At first she's annoyed as she has no intention of being married. She never wants to be controlled again. However Albert is also tired of being manipulated by his relatives. Victoria and Albert talk openly and sincerely and become friends. When he returns home she grants him permission to write to her. King Leopold is delighted and pushes Albert to woo her. Albert refuses because he knows she's not ready and he won't return to London until she invites him. Leopold reluctantly waits.

Meanwhile King William dies and Victoria is crowned the Queen of England. Albert visits London to witness the coronation and the friendship between Victoria and Albert deepens. Victoria's first decree is to banish her mother and Conroy to a remote palace apartment. She embraces LORD MELBOURNE (Paul Bettany), the charming Prime Minister, as her sole advisor. They become inseparable and although his motives are slightly self serving, he truly cares for her and wants her to succeed.

The public loves their new Queen. She's cheered as she rides through the streets but this honeymoon with the public comes to a sudden end. Melbourne's party is defeated in the elections and his rival, PEEL (Michael Maloney), demands that Victoria replace her ladies in waiting with the wives of his allies. Victoria refuses. The backlash is furious. The newspapers declare that Victoria is opposing the public's will. They are outraged.

King Leopold is convinced that now, while Victoria is humbled, is the time for Albert to strike. Albert reluctantly arrives at the Palace for a visit. They spend happy hours together and Victoria is struck by how handsome and sincere he is but she is not ready for marriage. It only takes a few months after his departure for Victoria to realize Albert is the 4th man she wants to marry and following Royal protocol, invites him to marry her. The spectacle of the royal wedding wins over the public. The handsome young Prince and Queen are cheered and all seems well in the Royal household.

However tensions between Albert and Victoria start to emerge. She wants an obedient friend and lover, not a controlling husband. He, however, wants to be her partner and equal and makes political suggestions. Victoria is furious. She is the Queen and she will decide her business! Albert is hurt and has little to do in his new role as Consort. Eventually, with QUEEN ADELAIDE'S (Harriet Walter) encouragement, she allows him to re-organize the palace staff. He does a great job - the household is more efficient than it's been in centuries.

Victoria becomes pregnant. Life should be perfect. But they argue when she sees Albert talking with politicians at a party. She's incensed that he is taking the lead without her permission. They are later riding through the streets when a crazed man tries to shoot Victoria. Albert throws her to the carriage floor and is shot trying to protect her.

Victoria realizes what a selfish woman she's become. She begs Albert's forgiveness a she insists that all he's ever wanted was what was best for her. Trusting him completely, she's now ready to accept his help. Together they banish Lehzen who had become jealous of the newly married couple, and her mother's treacherous advisor, Conroy, who was still wielding some influence. In a symbolic move, Victoria moves Albert's desk next to hers and for the rest of their lives they rule together.

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About the Production: The Young Victoria was filmed on location in England and at Shepperton Studios during aten week shoot from August 2007. The film is directed by the critically-acclaimed French-Canadian Jean-Marc Vallée (C.R.A.Z.Y.) from a script by Academy Award®winning Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park).

The Young Victoria has a distinguished ensemble of actors that includes Golden Globewinner Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada), Rupert Friend (Pride and Prejudice), Paul Bettany (The Da Vinci Code), Miranda Richardson (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), Jim Broadbent (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull), Mark Strong (Body of Lies) and Thomas Kretschmann (King Kong). Supporting cast is provided by Jesper Christensen (Casino Royale), Michael Maloney (Babel), Julian Glover (Troy) and Harriet Walter (Atonement).

The Young Victoria features an all-star production team that includes director ofphotography Hagen Bogdanski (The Lives of Others), production designer Patrice Vermette (C.R.A.Z.Y), Academy Award® winning costume designer Sandy Powell (The Aviator, Shakespeare in Love), Academy Award® winning make-up and hair designer Jenny Shircore (Amazing Grace, Elizabeth) and editor Jill Bilcock (Moulin Rouge!,Elizabeth). Music is composed by Ilan Eshkeri and the music supervisor is MaureenCrowe.

Vallée made his feature film debut with Black List, a strikingly stylish thriller honored with nine Genie Award nominations (Canada's "Oscars"). His next feature C.R.A.Z.Y., a beguiling coming of age tale won 11 Genie Awards including Best Motion Picture and
Best Director as well as 15 Jutra Awards, the Best Canadian Film prize at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2005, the Golden Reel Award as Canada's top box office performer and screened at some 20 international film festivals around the globe.

Vallée directed The Young Victoria from a script penned by Academy Award winning writer Julian Fellowes. Fellowes' screenplay for Gosford Park earned him numerous accolades including an Academy Award® received in 2002. His other screenwriting credits include Mira Nair's Vanity Fair and his directorial debut Separate Lies starring Tom Wilkinson.

Introduced to the project by Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York, The Young Victoria isa GK Films production, produced by Graham King, Martin Scorsese, Tim Headington and Sarah Ferguson, The Duchess of York. King and Scorsese won Best Picture and Best Achievement in Directing Oscars® respectively for their recent collaboration on the box office hit The Departed. GK Films' Colin Vaines is Executive Producer. Denis O'Sullivan is the film's co-producer.

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What's on your mind? Have you seen the movie? Are you a fan of Emily Blunt? Let us know what you think!

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