Young Victoria

From the official site: 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 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), but she is smothering and over-protective.

Victoria’s hansome cousin Albert (Rupert Friend) is invited to visit by her mother. He is also the nephew of her uncle King Leopold of Belguim (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 opening 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 Queen of England. 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 inseperable and although his motives are slightly self-serving, he truly cares for her and wants her to succeed. Prince Albert returns to London to witness the coronation and the friendship between Victoria and Albert deepens. They spend happy hours together but it’s obvious Victoria is under Melbourne’s spell and he eventually returns to Germany.

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, who are all supporters of Lord Melbourne, with the wives of his own allies.  Victoria refuses. Peel resigns and the backlash is furious. The newspapers declare that Victoria is opposing the public’s will. They are outraged.

It is only now that Victoria understands how much she needs Albert’s support. Against Melbourne’s wishes, she summounds the young prince back to England.This time Albert is determined not to be kept waiting in the wings any longer. Seeing his new resolution and struck by how handsome and sincere he is, Victoria invites him to marry her.

Opens North America December 18th.

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Rupert Friend

I’ll be honest with you, the first time I saw Pride and Prejudice (2005) I totally missed Rupert Friend as the questionable Wickham. I was totally engrossed with the yum that is Mr Darcy. (That reminds me, we need to do a profile on Matthew Macfadyen!)  It wasn’t until I saw The Libertine (2004) just a few short months later that my full attention went to the tall, chiseled featured young Brit. Now Rupert is poised to make a splash in the indie art house circle with two high profile roles.  Trust me, he will not go unnoticed any longer.

Up until recently Rupert’s played mostly supporting or co-star roles.  I highly recommend the little gem Mrs Palfrey and that Claremont (2005).  However other than a few shirtless scenes I say skip the largely forgettable Last Legion (2007)  and Virgin Territory (2007). In 2008 Rupert gave a stirring and frightening performance as a Nazi lieutenant in The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas that turned some heads and got some buzz. But it’s in two upcoming costume romances that Rupert is going to get some serious recognition.  First up is The Young Victoria, (already released inthe UK) co-starring (girl crush) Emily Blunt as the title character and Rupert as the stalwart Albert.  Then it’s the cougar inspirational film Cheri, with the lovely and timeless Michelle Pfeiffer as a retired courtesan out to educate Rupert’s callow Cheri.  Oh I’ll be seeing this several times I think.

Rupert has this knack of picking really interesting roles, things that step outside of the pretty boy looks.  He’s got a couple tough films coming up that should really showcase his not unconsiderable talents.  This would be beneficial since to date he’s mostly been known as either an Orlando Bloom look alike or Keira Knightly’s main squeeze. I think in 2009 Rupert is going to be stepping out from the shadows and making his mark in theaters.

Fansite: Rupert Friend dot Net

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Cheri
The Young Victoria
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Cheri

From the official site: Set in the luxurious demi-monde of pre-First World War Paris, Cheri is the story of a love affair between a beautiful retired courtesan Lea (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Cheri (Rupert Friend) the son of her old colleague and rival Mme Peloux (Kathy Bates).

Lea has educated the spoilt and callow boy in the ways of love, but after six years Mme Peloux has secretly arranged a marriage between Cheri and Edmee (Felicity Jones), daughter of a rich courtesan, Marie Laure (Iben Hjejle).

As the inevitable moment of parting approaches, Lea and Cheri come to terms with their imminent separation, but the roots of their life of ease and pleasure reach deeper than even they imagine and they begin to understand, too late, how much they mean to one another.

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