ODEON Magazine August 2017 | Page 4

The latest film news and previews from ODEON... Victoria & Abdul Judi Dench finds Ali Fazal the perfect tonic in this sumptuous historical drama With Stephen ‘The Queen’ Frears at the helm and a 24-carat gold cast that includes Judi Dench, Michael Gambon and Ali Fazal, Victoria & Abdul is a hugely classy affair that’s sure to be an awards contender. Based on an extraordinary true story, the film sees the always incredible Dame Judi taking on the role of Queen Victoria once again – she also played the iconic monarch in 1997’s Mrs Brown, of course. Curiously, that earlier movie was about an unlikely bond between the Queen and a member of her staff, and this one is too. But this time, instead of Billy Connolly’s Scottish servant, a much-older Victoria finds common ground with a young Indian man named Abdul Karim, who travels from his homeland to present Her Majesty with a gift. Having reigned for 62 years, the Queen (now 81) is, well, a bit fed up. As she points out to Abdul, everyone she’s ever loved has died and she has nearly a billion citizens to take care of, in a rapidly changing world. Fascinated by this friendly, clever clerk, she makes him her personal footman and, slowly but surely, an unexpected and rewarding friendship is forged. A sophisticated, funny, tear-jerking true story based on the bestselling book by Shrabani Basu. Definitely don’t miss this one – like Queen Victoria herself, it’s pure class! 15 SEP ///FILM GOSSIP/// 4 odeon.co.uk Watch the trailer • Joseph Kosinski (TRON: Legacy, Oblivion) is in talks to direct the Top Gun sequel