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My wife and I attended a preview screening last night with no preconceived ideas about the movie, not having even seen a trailer.

We were immediately drawn in and pleasantly surprised by the story, even though we thought it may have been a little far fetched. Until we found that it is a biography and mostly fact. That made the story even sweeter.

Dame Judy Dench's acting was peerless as usual, but by far the biggest revelation was Ali Fazal, who put in a wonderful performance from comedic through emotionally intense.

There was so much I didn't know about Queen Victoria's twilight years that this movie put into perspective, in a way that was consistently entertaining. We laughed and cried. Highly recommended.

Greetings again from the darkness. Director Stephen Frears has enjoyed a long career by focusing on the interesting stories of people, rather than the salient specifics of history or politics. He received Oscar nominations for THE QUEEN and THE GRIFTERS, and helmed other crowd-pleasers such as MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS, PHILOMENA, HIGH FIDELITY, and FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS. While purely entertaining movies are always welcome, it's important to note the filmmaker's approach when the story is entwined with historical importance.

"Based on real events … mostly" is Mr. Frears' cutesy way of kicking off the film and asking us to enjoy the unusual story of connection between a Queen and a servant, and cut him some slack on the historical depth. For most of us, the real enjoyment will be derived from watching yet another standout performance from Oscar winner (and 7 time nominee) Dame Judi Dench as the longest-reigning monarch, Queen Victoria in her elderly years. It's a role she played twenty years ago in MRS. BROWN, and her relationship with John Brown (presented in that film) has some parallels to what we see here with Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal). Dame Judi is the rare actress who can capture both the loneliness and tiresome burden of six decades of rule and the re-invigorated woman we see learning a new language and new religion. She plays weary and spunky with equal believability.

Victoria was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India, and in 1861 her beloved husband Prince Albert died. This film picks up in 1887 with the pomp and circumstance of the Golden Jubilee – a celebration of her 50 years of rule. The early scenes tease us with obstructed views, and the comedic element becomes quite obvious as we see her so carelessly slurping her soup at the formal lunch. Part of the celebration includes the presentation of an honorary coin by two Indians peasants Abdul (Fazal) and Mohammed (Adeel Akhtar), the first chosen because of his height, and the second as a last minute fill-in.

Lee Hall (Oscar nominated for BILLY ELLIOT) wrote the screenplay based on the book by Shrabani Basu. The journals of Abdul Karim were only discovered in 2010, a hundred years after his death. Some of the less favorable moments of this era are mentioned, but most of the Queen's lack of knowledge or awareness is attributed to the "boring" reports from her advisers. This leads to some awkward moments later in the film regarding the Muslim mutiny and the subsequent Fatwa.

Rather than dwell on history, the film prefers to focus on the unconventional friendship and the re-awakening of the Queen. Abdul becomes her "Munshi" – a spiritual adviser and her teacher of Urda and the Koran. As you would expect, this is all quite scandalous and frustrating for those such as Prime Minister Lord Salisbury (Michael Gambon), Lady Churchill (Olivia Williams), Victoria's son Bertie (Eddie Izzard), and the royal staff: Sir Henry (the recently deceased Tim Pigott-Smith), her physician Dr Reid (Paul Higgins), and her quivering maid Miss Phipps (Fenella Woolgar). There is even a comical sequence with the great singer Puccini (Simon Callow) as the Queen herself belts out the Gilbert and Sullivan song "I'm Called Little Buttercup".

Balmoral, the Isle of Wight, and Windsor Castle are all part of the breath-taking scenery, while the absurdity of the royal status is viewed through the eyes of the Indian servants. Most of the focus is on Victoria's transformation from joyless, isolated monarch to the anything-but-insane (an Oscar worthy scene) and eager to engage elderly woman (one who has an entire era named after her) falling back in love with life as she fights off "the banquet of eternity". Come for the laughs and the performance of Dame Judi … just not for a history lesson.

This movie is a treat for the eyes with gorgeous Scottish locations, stylishly detailed costumes, stately summer palaces, and consists of many professional performances. It's good to see Dame Dench give a strong performance following some by-the-numbers of late. It also holds the attention for most of its run time by offering a tell-tale story of a little known relationship between this long reigning Queen, with a randomly selected Indian - who was one of two 'local subjects' brought to England to present her with a specially minted gold coin - as token of appreciation from British ruled India. The close relationship that follows between her and one of the guest presenters tends to become perhaps a little too romanticised for the level of believability expected of its audience. Victoria's Burqa comments made at her first sight of Abdul's wife - seem far too 'fanciful' if not highly doubtful.

It's more like a case of this older woman maybe being mesmerized by the mystical East or the BBC perhaps, following a mandate to sell a political message of Muslim cleansing to the British populace and the world. Either way there's a feeling that, at its core, maybe lays a major thread of PC manipulation. If you can brush this aside you'll enjoy a well-made tale of highly unusual interracial fascination but, there remain other odd facts to overcome. As head of the Church of England this Queen is allowed to slowly die - without a representative of her church being in attendance - highly suspect if this is being claimed as true! The introductory credits tell us; "This story is based on real events...well, mostly". Make of that what you will.

2/4/18. What a beautiful and true story of a very unlikely friendship that crosses many cultural borders at the time. Of course, today, this would be just as unlikely as it was then, but it is a true wonder that this story was ever told at all. Does not paint a good picture of Queen Victoria's children who mistreated the aging queen with such disrespect and Abdul with such racist disdain. The true story of what Victoria's children did, expunge any trace of the friendship Victoria had with Abdul, is a cautionary tale of how adult children should not treat their aging parents. It's called parental abuse. Today such a friendship would be fodder for the tabloids, but at least it would have been told. Well done and worth seeing.

Some good performances to support another superb performance by Judy Dench. Izzard was a revelation.

Good pace, good camera work - More history well told than masterpiece, but a good night out.

More comedic lines than I was expecting. Is the racism at the core of the film as much about class as religion?

The first thing anyone will say after watching this movie is how utterly amazing Judi Dench is, and rightly so, she ones again dons the robes of Queen Victoria and gives a commanding performance as one of the most famous monarchs. A performance worthy of an Oscar, she is an actress with unrivalled talent. This film is so much more then Dench's performance, spellbinding though it was.

Ali Fazal, also worthy of accolades and awards, for his superb performance as Indian servant Abdul Karim. His performance is actually rather captivating, The Queen was taken under his spell and as a viewer so was I. Such an intriguing, fascinating character, probably unlike any other man she'd ever encountered.

Superb production values throughout, the film was visually dazzling, sumptuous settings, jaw dropping costumes, this was a treat for the senses.

A film is meant to move, and allow for escapism, when it can educate as well, it's worth of the elevated sore of 10/10.

Absolutely loved it.

As we crawl out of the (largely disappointing) summer movie season, the first of the serious award-contenders hoves into view. Victoria and Abdul tells the untold story of a hushed-up relationship between an aged Queen Victoria (Judi Dench, "Philomina", "Spectre") and her Indian servant, Abdul Kareem (Ali Fazal).

Kareem is shipped to England from Agra to deliver a ceremonial coin to the Queen on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee, together with a grumbling 'stand-in tall guy' Mohammed (Adeel Akhtar, "The Big Sick", "Four Lions"). Kareem finds the Queen as sour, depressed and acidic as her post-Albert reputation would have you imagine. But something clicks between the two, and pretty soon the perked-up queen is learning Urdu and all about the Koran, much to the horror of her successor Teddy, the Prince of Wales (a splendid Eddie Izzard, "Oceans 13") and the rest of the royal household, who try desperate measures to derail the relationship.

This film is a complete delight. I went along without great expectations.... a worthy film I thought I should go and see to write a worthy review about. But I was entranced from beginning to end. It's probably best described as a comedy drama... always a difficult trick for a movie-maker to pull off. But here in the competent hands of director Stephen Frears ("Florence Foster Jenkins") the comedy is both very, VERY funny, with the drama also being extremely moving. And crucially the transition between the two never feels forced.

I've seen a few critical comments that the film's underlying topic - the subjugation of the Indian state and the queen's role in that, is a "serious topic" and not a suitable subject for a comedy like this. And of course, "the Empire" is a terrible legacy that the British people have around their necks in the same manner as Germans have their Nazi past and the American South have their history of slavery. But the film never really gets into these issues in any depth: Abdul's background, whilst sketchily drawn and feeling rather sanitised for the late 1800's, is one of a middle-class Indian with a decent colonial job: someone shown respect by his British managers. While the "uprising" of Muslims is mentioned - indeed it's a key part of the story - Victoria's lack of knowledge of such things, or indeed of all things to do with the country she is 'Empress' of, is made clear. The focus of the film is quite rightly on the understandable scandal (for the day) of the queen of England (and hence head of the Church of England) having a spiritual teacher (or "Munshi") who is neither white nor Christian. If there is a criticism to be made of the splendid script by Lee Hall ("War Horse") it is that the racial references - and there are a few - feel rather over-sanitised given the tensions that erupt as the story unfolds.

Above all, this is an acting tour de force for Dame Judi, reprising her role as the elderly queen from "Mrs Brown" which (shockingly!) is now 20 years old. I know its early in the season to be placing bets, before having seen any of the other major contenders, but Dench's "insanity" speech screams "Oscar reel" to me. Her performance is masterly from beginning to end.

Rather overshadowed by Dench is the relative newcomer to western cinema Ali Fazal (he had a role in the "Furious 7" film). But his performance is almost as impressive, bringing the warmth and compassion to the supporting role that is so sorely needed if the overall balance of the film is to be maintained.

The supporting cast is equally stellar with Olivia Williams ("An Education", "The Sixth Sense") acidic as Baroness Churchill; Simon Callow ("Four Weddings and a Funeral") as Puccini; Michael Gambon ("Harry Potter") as Lord Salisbury and Tim Pigott-Smith as Henry Ponsonby, head of the royal household. This was Pigott-Smith's final live-action performance before his untimely death at the age of only 70 in April of this year: and it's sad to say that he really doesn't look well in this film. Also of note is Fenella Woolgar as lady's maid Miss Phipps, comical as a the quivering wreck holding the shortest straw in having to face up to her ferocious mistress.

Another star of the show is the Scottish countryside, ravishingly photographed by Danny Cohen ("Florence Foster Jenkins", "Room") with this film probably doing more for the Scottish Tourist Board than any paid for advertising could ever do!

As the film comments it's "Based on a True Story... Mostly", and this tease of a caption both infuriates and intrigues in equal measure.  I may feel obliged to delve into the original source material by Shrabani Basu to learn more.  

Overall this is a true delight of a film, perfectly balanced, brilliantly acted: I would say this is a "must see" for any older viewers over the age of 50 in need of a cinema outing that doesn't disappoint. This is everything that (for me) "Viceroy's House" should have been but wasn't. Highly recommended.

(For the graphical version of this review, please visit www.bob-the- movie-man.com. Thanks.)

What an amazing movie, Judi is as usual, such a wonderful actress portraying Queen Victoria once again. The story line is fantastic and it flows beautifully. This would have to be the best film for me this year. I love how they made this film so funny, and yet so touching. I laughed and I cried all the way through.

I realize this was based on a real life relationship between Queen Victoria and Mohammed Abdul Karim (the Munshi) who was her East Indian attendant from 1887 until her death on January 22, 1901, and so the information retained may be a bit fuzzy. Judi Dench who plays Queen Victoria always puts on a good performance and actor Ali Fazal who plays her East Indian born Munshi paired well but the on screen chemistry between Queen and her faithful servant was less than impressive.

I kept waiting for that one singular tearful on screen moment in the movie and even on her death bed when she called out for her Munshi it was shallow and non eventful. Mrs. Shullivan and I enjoyed the film and its attempt at presenting some factual historical moments during the latter years of Queen Victoria's reign with her Munshi from 1897 to 1901 but this film missed its mark.

The on screen chemistry between Judi Dench and Ali Fazal fizzled early and I would relate it to a glass of beer that was all foam and with little beer. I wanted more beer.

Still, it was worthy of a 6 out of 10 IMDB rating.

Being a Pakistani, and a Muslim, I was quite looking forward to watch Victoria & Abdul. It seemed as if a new perspective had been depicted on the subcontinent and the British attitudes towards her colonies. However, this film does not feel real at all. It seems the Queen follows Abdul blindly; this seems strange for a lady who was the Empress of India. Although it is a true story, I feel they could have done much more with the movie so that it would feel real at least. Or maybe the relation between the two was quite unreal.

A kind of average companion piece to 'Mrs Brown'. Directed by "safe pair of hands" Stephen Frears, there's nothing particularly wrong with it, but there's nothing particularly exciting or impressive about it, either. It's watchable, but it isn't going to set the world alight.

My Rating : 6/10

Relatively unknown little secret of Queen Victoria's later life in which she was able to have a rather sweet platonic relationship with an Indian servant by the name of Abdul Kareem who was shipped to her from Agra to simply deliver a ceremonial coin on the occasion of her Diamond Jubilee.

Charming, nothing too fancy 'Victoria & Abdul' is endearing and I found myself pleasantly surprised by this odd combination of the two protagonists played beautifully by Dame Judi Dench and Ali Fazal.

It's 1887 Agra, India. Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal) is a clerk in the local jail. Due to his height, he is picked to present Queen Victoria (Judi Dench) with a mohur for her Jubilee. He is eager for the prestigious opportunity although the other presenter is the much shorter and angry Mohammed. During the ceremony, Abdul makes forbidden eye contact with the Queen and she is taken with the tall dark stranger. She befriends him and makes him her Munshi which raises the concern of the court especially the heir Bertie, Prince of Wales (Eddie Izzard).

The idea of the legendary Queen being taught by an Islamic scholar is profound history. This could be powerful with good tension and high drama. To achieve that, the movie has to hit precisely with Abdul. To me, he's played as too childlike. There is a way to do excitement without being childish. It diminishes his character which makes his lies more childlike. He needs nobility which is only partly there. Judi Dench is obviously a great actress and playing the Queen is well within her range. There is a powerful scene with her professing her loneliness. It would be more powerful if the tone isn't so light. Director Stephen Frears is trying to be too cute by half. The cutesy touches combine to lighten the much needed darker tension.

Mainly for two reasons: 1) There were a few scenes (dialogue level) in which Abdul told the queen "half truths", or let the queen assume things (Victoria referred to those things while talking to him) without correcting her. Also, a few scenes Abdul had with another Hindo named Mohammed discussing the British people. 2) The romantic tinge being hinted over and over again.

And there are a few more things, but mentioning those might be spoilers.

Was Abdul a good guy? - OR was he an opportunist taking advantage of an old lady and the British people who took over India? I do believe he cared for her on some level, but that's the question I am going to take from this movie.

The writing and the directions veer far away from the facts of the actual relationship to the point of being ambiguously absurd alluding to a romantic tinge. Especially in the final scene that shows the Taj Mahal, a symbol of romantic devotion, it just detracts from the actual connection Victoria and Abdul shared that transcended barriers of class, creed, color, race to connect on a human level. Abdul helps the lonely and aching queen to be her true self without the formalities of a queen and empathizes with her on a human level to comfort her, entertain her curiosity adding a new lease of life in her twilight years.

It such a shame the writing and the direction tinge it with romantic tones for the sale ability factor when it could have been a precious equation between two people fighting their own battles to over come many societal barriers.

The acting by the leading characters is top notch, but queen's character is a bit more fleshed out to give the dame to show her true potential where as Abdul's character could have been more engaging to hook the audience to get to know why the queen was so found of him.Eddie Izzard does the a brilliant portrayal of the heir to the throne.

Worth a watch, well executed,if you care to cautiously overlook to the glaringly mismatch within.

Last year it was ethnicity that dominated the Oscars and this year it could well be longevity. I recently predicted that, at the age of 91, Harry Dean Stanton could be Oscar's oldest ever Best Actor and even now there is every chance he will be posthumously nominated while Dame Judi, a mere 82, should have no worries in being a sure-fire contender for her performance as Queen Victoria in "Victoria & Abdul". It's a part she has already played in "Mrs. Brown", (losing out to Helen Hunt in "It's As Good as it Gets"), and to be fair, this is something of a walk in the park for her.

We are told the movie is 'mostly' based on actual events but I think we have to take a lot of what we see with a pinch of salt. It's certainly an entertaining picture, if a little twee and whimsical at times, but there is also a little more heft to it than meets the eye. As written by Lee Hall and directed by Stephen Frears this is no mere sentimental, historical romp. It is, of course, the story of the Queen's friendship, in the years before her death, with her Indian servant Abdul Karim, (Ali Fazal, an actor new to me), which until recently was something kept very much under wraps and which was very much opposed to by the Prime Minister, her son the Prince of Wales and the entire royal household and Hall makes this another post-Brexit movie, (I have a feeling we are going to see a lot of post-Brexit movies in the next few years).

What we have here is a film about racism and about empire and it's quite as relevant today as it was back in Victoria's time. Not that you have to take it too seriously; there's a lot of low comedy on display and Frears has assembled an outstanding cast of British character actors. Eddie Izzard is an obnoxious future king, the late Tim Piggot-Smith is quite wonderful as the toadying head of the household, Michael Gambon is the befuddled Prime Minister and Paul Higgins practically walks off with the picture as the Queen's concerned doctor; concerned, not with her health, but with the number of Indians about the place. As a piece of film-making there is, naturally, a large dose of Masterpiece Theatre on display but that, in itself, isn't such a bad thing. "Victoria & Abdul" goes down a treat.

This has to be one of the best films that I have seen this year.Judi Dench is peerless as Queen Victoria.She is the queen personified.We can see that whatever understanding that she has of her Indian subjects will pass with her and that the ingrained attitudes will eventually lead to Independence and loss of Empire.A really excellent film.

Most movies made today carry an underlying political message which is inserted in by the views and beliefs of the movie studio and producers who make the film. Unfortunately this is one such movie. The underlying political view the filmmaker wants you to believe in this movie is that the British upper class and monarchy were just a bunch of uneducated nitwits that knew nothing about India's people, religions, and culture-that couldn't tell the difference between hindus and muslims, didn't know anything about India's foods, traditions, culture etc... The movie also tries to give the message that even though the British considered themselves as the epitome of civilization and as Hindus and muslims less civilized, in actuality the opposite is true. It ridicules British culture and tradition and glorifies islam and Islamic culture, like when in the movie the queens is happily amazed when she sees women that are draped in full burqa and she (Queen Victoria) even says in the movie that she thinks a women covered from head to toe in a black burqa looks "dignified". I highly doubt queen Victoria thought that covering women in a full black burqa and pulling them around like cattle looked "dignified". The filmmaker put that in so that he can push his view on people that burqas are actually good and empowering to women, when in reality this couldn't be farther from the truth. This is just one example found in the movie of political messages the filmmaker is trying to push, but only a dimwit would not notice. To sum it up the movie wants to give you the idea that: islam is beautiful and amazing, Christianity is dull and backwards, third world is actually 1st world, and western culture is stupid, boring, and out of touch with the rest of the world. I wish they would make real movies again like they did up until the late 90's when they rarely added in political messages and instead focused on making a well thought out interesting movie for entertainment purposes and not ideological. This is why I don't go to movie theaters anymore or buy any new movies because they all carry a political message nowadays that they try to insert into people's minds instead of just making a movie for entertainment which is what they are supposed to be to begin with.