Australian Reviews for The Special Relationship

Michael Sheen's The Special Relationship has been playing in Australian cinemas since yesterday, and the reviews are coming in…

-The Sydney Morning Herald:

The surprise about The Special Relationship is that it's not just about Blair and Clinton. The other "special relationship" in question is between each man and his wife. That makes the film so much richer, both as comedy and drama.

Full Review Here

-What’s Playing:

The brilliance of the movie starts with the performers. Dennis Quaid can be a terrible ham at times (The Day After Tomorrow, Flight of the Phoenix, GI Joe) but his talent shines as the silver-haired, silver-tongued president. He has the high-pitched southern drawl just right and if you squint it’s easy to believe you’re watching the real Clinton. Better still is Hope Davis, portraying Hilary’s blend of slightness but iron-willed resoluteness perfectly.

Sheen and McCrory as the Blairs are also excellent, but of course they’ve had plenty of practice - this is the third time in the role for Sheen, the second for McCrory.

Full Review Here

-ABC Canberra:

It starts as very much a senior/junior partnership with Clinton being the wise adviser and Blair being the star-struck newbie. Blair soon sees the advantage in such a high profile buddy when Clinton speaks out about the IRA and Sinn Fein which results in the peace process getting back on track. The favour is soon repaid when Bill Clinton gets into some Lewinsky hot water and Blair shows him some public support.

Full Review Here

-Quickflix:

The film begins with a pre-PM Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) heading to Washington to pick up some election tricks from the newly elected President Bill Clinton (Dennis Quaid). They work a treat, and the next time he arrives in the capital of the United States, it’s as the intensely popular leader of the United Kingdom. Clinton and Blair are handsome, relatively young, and full of big ideas. They get along like a house on fire, and agree to reignite the famous “special relationship” long shared by their two nations. Blair is grateful to have Clinton reciprocate the friendship, not unlike the kid at school glad to no longer be picked last for the soccer team. But as revelations emerge regarding Clinton’s affair with a young intern named Monica Lewinsky, Blair learns that friendship with the POTUS might be a poisoned chalice.

Full Review Here

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