The Special Relationship

Director: Richard Loncraine
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Michael Sheen, Helen McCrory and Hope Davis
Releasing in cineams: 5 August 2010
Rated: M

The thinking man’s In The Loop, The Special Relationship is a behind-the-scenes look at historically recent political shenanigans in high places. Specifically, it examines the increasingly uneasy relationship between US President Bill Clinton (Dennis Quaid) and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) during the tumultuous times of the Lewinsky affair and Kosovo.

Originally made for TV and presented in a pseudo-documentary fashion, what could be as boring as yesterday’s news becomes lively and fascinating. Early in his career, a rather naive Tony Blair goes to Washington to hone his political skills. On his journey to the office of Prime Minister, he gains support and grooming from President Bill Clinton. Once Blair’s in power, their special relationship is sealed.. Clinton and his wife Hilary (Hope Davis) seek to enjoy the company of Tony and his wife Cherie (Helen McCrory).

The emphasis is on the British side of the Atlantic as Tony and Cherie are well-developed characters and the heart of the film. We’re drawn into their surprisingly normal domestic situation and they seem a pleasant, almost everyday, family. Blair is affable and intelligent, with a sharp grasp of politics and a driving ambition.

Things get a little murky when Clinton becomes involved in the 1998 Monica Lewinsky scandal; one from which Blair would wish to distance himself. With Clinton later facing possible impeachment, Blair feels a real friendship for the President, and while he’d rather step back from the scandal, he prepares to stand by Clinton at his own political risk.

The problems in Kosovo present a more serious difference of opinion between the leaders. Blair wants to send in ground troops to stave off the bloodshed; Clinton prefers to simply continue air attacks. Blair discovers Clinton isn’t quite the ally he expected.

A passionate speech in Chicago drumming up support for ground troops allows Blair to win the day, so it seems the President’s new best friend has more political clout than he gave him credit. An ambivalent Blair might be convinced of his own goodwill, but the rift becomes obvious in tense scenes between the two leaders which follow.

The final ironic newsreel shot showing Blair smiling with the new President George W. Bush is a harbinger of things to come with Iraq just around the corner. How special is their relationship and at what cost? Blair has clearly decided which side his bread is buttered on.

Micheal Sheen fits Tony Blair like a glove. He should, he’s played the part in three outings: The Deal (made for TV), The Queen with award-winning Helen Mirren in a more lavish production, and now The Special Relationship. All were written by Peter Morgan, who also gave us Frost/Nixon. This well-researched and intelligent script provides the story with a strong backbone. Dennis Quaid (Legion) manages a reasonable likeness of Clinton, largely capturing his speech mannerisms.

A by-product of the script is the influence the wives have upon their power-wielding husbands. Cherie and Hilary get on well together right from the start. Helen McCrory again plays Cherie, as she did in The Queen, and effectively conveys the shrewd support Cherie gives Tony. Hope Davis (Genova) has a resemblance to Hilary Clinton, and delivers the right level of dignified loyalty during the Lewinsky charade.

Director Richard Loncraine (Richard III) following on from Stephen Frears who helmed The Queen, does a workmanlike job of keeping The Special Relationship an interesting exercise. Loncraine uses archival footage to great advantage throughout. While the film’s TV origins creep through at times, it must be said it’s very good TV as one comes to expect from HBO (of Deadwood fame) and the BBC. It’s well worth a look.

John Bale