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As you, the loyal reader may know, I am a stickler to detail when it comes to films that try take a page from history and put it on the silver screen. The Young Victoria, starring Golden Globe-nominated actress Emily Blunt, is a resounding success with its portrayal of the ascension and early years of Queen Victoria's reign, the longest (1837-1901) in British history.

During her sad childhood, we learn that Victoria was kept in seclusion by her widowed mother, the Duchess of Kent (Miranda Richardson) and her mother's manipulative chief consul, Sir John Conroy (Mark Strong - Sherlock Holmes). His objective is to get Victoria to sign paperwork that will give regency power to the Duchess, whom he controls. She refuses despite his threats.

Victoria's elderly uncle, King William IV (Jim Broadbent) vows to live long enough to see that his only direct heir turns 18 and thus avoid a regent. He succeeds by less than a month. Queen Victoria then comes to rely heavily upon the consul of Prime Minister Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany - The Da Vinci Code) as she tries to prove that she can be a strong head of state.

Victoria learns that even though she is queen, many around her still look upon her as a pawn in a game. This includes her uncle, Leopold I of Belgium who thinks wrongly he will have inside influence at Buckingham Palace when she becomes involved with her first cousin, German Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Rupert Friend - Chéri).

Gradually, a romantic relationship blossoms between them and its Albert's advice that serves her well - "You better master the rules of the game until you can play it better than they can."

Blunt has shown flashes of her acting prowess in recent work like Sunshine Cleaning, but in The Young Victoria she puts it all together with a transformational performance that is brilliant throughout. She slips effortlessly into her daunting role and accomplishes what a good thespian should - make the viewer forget the actor or actress they are watching and instead think only about the character he or she is playing. Blunt gives Victoria complexity and Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallée (C.R.A.Z.Y.) allows her to explore the queen's strengths and faults with unwavering honesty.

Wonderful set and costume designs help cloak the film with a sense of historical authenticity while the supporting cast benefits from a well-written script. Friend was dreadful in Chéri, but handles himself nicely as a prince who must follow his own advice in order to be his own man. Bettany injects a wicked sense of charm into Melbourne and Broadbent is delightful as the "Sailor King."

Of course there is a little dramatic license taken here and there during the course of the story, but only one attains a little historical blasphemy and it involves an assassination attempt. Otherwise, The Young Victoria will leave you saying, "God Save The Queen!"

On a letter grade scale from A being excellent to F for failing, The Young Victoria receives an A.
    
The Young Victoria is not rated and has a running time of 100 minutes.

Now showing through January 20 @
Glenwood Arts
9575 Metcalf
Overland Park
Visit www.fineartsgroup.com or call 913-642-4404 for more information.

By Michael D. Smith

Indie Film Editor

Michael D. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri followed by a Master of Arts in history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Inspired by such critics as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael started reviewing films in 1992 for College of the Ozarks's student-run newspaper. After returning to the Kansas City area in 1994, he continued film reviewing by writing for the Cass County Democrat Missourian in Harrisonville.

In 2000 Michael joined Sun Publications in Overland Park, Kansas where he served as its film critic and Arts and Entertainment Editor. During his tenure there, he was also the film critic for the "Fine Arts Radio Hour" and "Celebrity Scoop" radio shows on KXTR. After leaving the Sun in late 2002, he became the A&E writer for the Olathe News in Olathe, Kansas. He also worked as a freelance writer for The Squire in Leawood, Showcase Publishing in Lake Ozark, Missouri and the Kansas City Star.

Michael is currently a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, a professional film critic organization established in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser.