Indie Roundup: ‘Hyde Park on Hudson’

“Hyde Park on Hudson” is a movie that at first blush has all the hallmarks of a prestige awards-friendly movie. It stars a beloved veteran actor — Bill Murray — playing an even more beloved American legend — FDR. It’s set on Roosevelt’s estate in upstate New York, giving the film shades of “Downton Abbey.” And it features the same stuttering monarch from best-picture winner “The King’s Speech.” Yet beneath all that decorousness and good taste, there’s something perverse about this movie. (Note: If you feel that movies about historical events can contain spoilers, give this article a miss.)

‘Hyde Park on the Hudson’ shows FDR’s complicated private life

Franklin Delano Roosevelt may be the subject of the upcoming movie “Hyde Park on Hudson” — starring Bill Murray — but don’t expect to see him signing Social Security into law, addressing the nation after the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, or redrawing Europe with Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin at the Yalta conference. Instead, the movie focuses on the remarkably complicated and freewheeling personal life of the 32nd president.

Indie Roundup TIFF: Bill Murray depicts a swinging FDR in ‘Hyde Park’ Plus DePalma’s ‘Passion’ and Doc ‘Room 237’

Toronto International Film Festival, Day-Three Screenings:

From a probable future Oscar nominee to a definite future Razzie nominee, here are highlights from day three at TIFF.

“Hyde Park on the Hudson” — This biopic has, at first blush, all the hallmarks of a prestige Oscar movie. It stars a beloved veteran actor — Bill Murray — playing an even more beloved American legend — FDR. It’s set on Roosevelt’s estate in upstate New York, giving the film shades of “Downton Abbey”. And it features the same stuttering monarch from Best Picture winner “The King’s Speech.” Yet beneath all that decorousness and good taste, there’s something very perverse about the movie.