The Age of Commercialism

As Good As It Gets

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Bertie and Elizabeth was a lot of fun to watch.The settings and location scenery was gorgeous.This movie had beautiful cinema photography and a rich quality to it.The actor who played Bertie was amazing.I have never seen him in a show or movie before.Alan bates as King George V was truly a revelation.If this is truly the way George the V was towards his sons it is no wonder that Bertie stammered all over the place and that David just did not really care about his role in the scheme of things.Of course as usual the queen mother did not stick up for her children she just made matters worse.It seems as if the royals in the House Of Windsor have a lot to learn about being parents.That is true even today.Look at Prince Philip,Queen Elizabeth and Charles.They are major failures who don't know how to treat people decently.I did not like the aspect of the film that made fun of David and Wallis as if they were devils.A film needs to be made to show that Charles and Camilla destroyed Diana and the entire modern monarchy.

Although some of the reviewers find the film lacking, I was overjoyed to see a somewhat different point of view from the Wallis versions. I caught two this week. While I have no historical perspective of either side, those films and this make for a somewhat balanced perspective of the tragic and comedic episode in the lives of the brothers, David and Bertie.The Bertie I meet here is absolutely charming, with a supportive wife, and rather bright daughters. And the Wallis Simpson here is absolutely loathsome. It is here and here alone her possible shallowness and spite are raised against (Queen) Elizabeth, the Royals in general, and fleshes out her own self importance not seen elsewhere. She appears unlikeable, unsupportable and unattractive in all ways.Clearly, history will be forthcoming when more of the Windsor family have left the stage, but this wee film made possible to uncover some of the distinct differences between the two Kings and brothers. Bertie, George VI, comes off rather well, all things considered and David (Edward VIII) comes out smelling like Henry VIII without his massive fangs.Another reviewer seemed to object to the introduction of Queen Wilhelmina and President Roosevelt, but I for one as a former resident, loved seeing the engaging Dutch Queen's presence as an escaped Royal because up until now I was rather ashamed she had abandoned ship. And it didn't hurt but rather help to get a peek into a possible personal conversation between the King and the American President about war and politics. I rather wonder if Edward VIII would have stuck it out with his Duchess during air- raids and bombs, and as neither of them seemed likely to have children together, they wouldn't have to face the choices Bertie and Elizabeth faced.The film moves slowly, but it enabled me to catch my breath and reflect on the possibilities of this being history not fiction or a film. I felt proud of this formerly stuttering King, his understanding and down to earth Queen and the English people. Perhaps I am sentimental, or even foolish to think they behaved thus, and naive to get caught up, tears in my eyes, as the plot unfolded, but if I am I say I feel satisfied with this tiny entry into this particular part of English history even without all the dirty laundry that accompanied the era, the abdicated and the vileness of broken promises. Perhaps one day we'll see a more fleshed out Bertie and Elizabeth or the truth about the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, but until then I'm rather satisfied with this one.

If you want historical accuracy, look elsewhere. Fact, distortion, omission, and plain fiction are so interwoven in this picture that I almost wanted to see a disclaimer at the start of the film.However! If you can chuck all that aside and just focus on the film itself, it's a charming, sweet, no-brainer movie with uplifting moments tossed in.The portrayal of the struggles between David and Bertie, who'd always been close, after the arrival of Wallis, is the most "poison pill" version I've seen. David is portrayed as a flat-out cad, while Wallis is a scheming, grasping "rhymes-with-'itch.'" The devastation of Bertie and the poise of Elizabeth are in sharp contrast to the "bad couple."This is just one example of how the writers used elements to highlight the tremendous tension between public and private royal life in the 20th century, and how personal feelings *must* be sacrificed to duty. Obviously, this dynamic still plays out in the 21st century.What shines through above all in this picture is the love between Bertie and Elizabeth. As such, it is a charming romance film with some lovely costumes and sets, and some moving historical references thrown in. The steadfastness of B & E's relationship, and how it allowed both of them to survive some of the most crushing episodes of their lives, is inspiring to watch. And then one wants to grab a book to find out what *really* happened. :-)

I saw this mini series last year on Masterpiece Theatre here in the USA and loved it so much I bought the DVD. It was refreshing to see another side to the Wallice/David romance. I was appalled just how spiteful Wallis/David were to Bertie and Elizabeth. No wonder the Queen Mum and the Queen despised Wallis so much. Wallis came across as a power hungry witch who seemed to wear the trousers in that relationship. The casting for this mini series was superb. The young actresses who played theyoung Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret through childhood and young women, their likenesses were uncanny. I wish I could say the same for Robert Hardys portrayal as Roosevelt. He would have been better off playing Winston Churchill in my opinion. I agree wholeheartedly with the poster that they was disappointed that the quote from Elizabeth during the blitz "I'm glad we were bombed, now I can look the East End in the face" wasn't used. David Wilby was amazing as Bertie, I truly felt so much compassion for his struggle with his stammering. And he overcome it with the help of his beloved Elizabeth (the delightful Juliet Aubrey). What a wonderful couple they were. An excellent story,It made me so proud to be British. 10 out of 10 from me. High praise indeed as I don't usually watch Royal romance dramas.