Salt Lake Tribune Review

Lovers of palace intrigue and period-piece opulence will get their fill in French-Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallée’s look at the early days of Queen Victoria’s long reign. As portrayed by Emily Blunt (“The Devil Wears Prada”), Victoria was a pampered princess who became queen at 18 -- and struggled at first in the power grab of her would-be protectors, Sir John Conroy (Mark Strong, also seen in “Sherlock Holmes”) and Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany). The parliamentary machinations, in a smart script by Julian Fellowes (“Gosford Park”), give way to a sweet romantic tale of Victoria and the German nobleman Prince Albert (Rupert Friend) becoming lovers and trusty political partners. Blunt’s performance, restrained and fiery, holds together the personal and the political threads of this handsomely mounted drama.
- Sean P. Means

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