The Special Relationship

In any relationship there's a beginning, middle and an end. The beginnings are usually better than the ends and the middles are what determine how the ends play out. Relationships in politics are no different.
Director Richard Loncraine (Wimbledon) has done a smashing job with Peter Morgan's screenplay. Morgan was the genius behind the other political hits The Queen and The Deal. Together they give us a behind the scenes look into a relationship between two of the most powerful men on the planet, The President of the United States and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Not even Tony Blair's bathtub is out of bounds!
We start off with a young, keen-as-mustard Tony Blair (Michael Sheen – The Twilight: New Moon). He has jetted across the pond to get some pointers from the newly elected U.S Presidents' advisors to help Blair and his Labour Government finally defeat the seventeen year long reign of the Conservative Party. Not too long after that when his party takes power, Blair and his wife Cherie (Helen McCrory - Harry Potter) pop off to the U.S.A to visit the White House. Blair seems like a virgin on prom night; he looks as nervous as he is excited.
President Bill Clinton (Dan Quaid - Legion), who is heart-crushingly quick to point out to Tony that the term 'Special Relationship' does not apply to the UK, has swept aside the sexual harassment allegations from Paula Jones and can now focus on other things. Both Clinton and Blair are passionate about peace in Northern Ireland which they relate in their addresses to the press. Not long after Clinton showed his support for Blair, Blair had a historic meeting with Sinn Fein party leader Gerry Adams which soon lead to an end to the violence that had rocked Northern Ireland for decades.
It seems like this is a match made in heaven. However threads start to fray as tension mounts in Kosovo and Clinton is about to be struck with the sexual harassment suit that will lead to his undoing. Ever present at his side is his wife Hillary (Hope Davis - The Nines) who has to deal with her husband's indiscretion in the most public of forums.
The film ends as does the relationship as Clinton is impeached, George W. Bush is "elected" into the White House and Hillary is elected Senator of New York. Real footage of Bush and Blair taken at Camp David shows another smiling, almost naive looking Blair with the man that the whole world would soon grow to hate. If only Blair knew what was to come, perhaps his 'rebound relationship' would have been with someone else.
This is the third time Michael Sheen has played Tony Blair in his career, all in films penned by Peter Morgan; and again, Sheen is brilliant. Quaid plays a very charming, charismatic and snack-obsessed Clinton; that accent of his is pretty much spot on. Something has to be said about Hope Davis, her portrayal of Hillary was superb, if only more screen time was given to her. I loved seeing the wardrobe that launched a thousand pant-suits again!
I can't wait till this comes out on DVD so I can watch it again. It's a fantastic film that I really hope people get to see. It's not just about politics, it's about friendship and finding out how far you will go to support a friend in need.
Things I learnt: Hillary Clinton is one tolerant lady; hanging up on the French President is OK if you've got the US President on hold; hindsight is a wondrous thing.
Bloody good.
Seven out of ten.