Grace of Monaco (2014) User Reviews (102)

Rainier, Alfred, Charles and Grace

[rubenm · 7/10 · 3 June 2014]

The one to blame for Tippi Hedren, and not Grace Kelly, starring in Hitchcock's 'Marnie' is really Charles De Gaulle. At least, that's what 'Grace of Monaco' suggests. It's probably not quite true, but the film doesn't pretend to be historically accurate. It says so at the beginning: it's a fictional drama, based on true events.

The film shows a relatively small part of Kelly's remarkable life. After having been married for six years to Prince Rainier of Monaco, she is visited by Alfred Hitchcock who offers her the lead in his film project 'Marnie'. She wants to do it, but reviving her acting career turns out to be impossible because of a crisis in Monaco, caused by French president Charles De Gaulle's political manoeuvrings.

We see Kelly as a somewhat naive Princess, who against her will becomes involved in political power-play. When a French diplomat suggests that Europe should become a third pillar of world power, next to the Soviet Union and the US, the American-born Kelly quips that this wouldn't be necessary if Europe wouldn't have invented communism and fascism. It's one of the best one-liners in the film.

The story switches nicely from Rainier's political problems to Kelly's own personal doubts. She is not happy as a Princess, and has trouble with the rigid conventions of life at the palace. The film even suggests that her outspoken opinions help solving the problems with France in the end. This may not be historically correct, but it makes for a nice script.

Much has been said about casting Nicole Kidman. I think there are very few actresses on the globe who would have done a better job. I'm not exactly a big fan of Kidman, but in this case she shows exactly the right mix of a strong will, a fearless non-conformist attitude and a superb elegance. She fits in perfectly with the cinematography, full of warm colours and lush images.

I liked the way the script works towards an apotheosis: a speech by Kelly at a high-profile philanthropic event in Monaco. The speech is truly great; either it's very good script writing, or Kelly employed a very talented speech writer. It's the highlight of the film: Kidman delivers her text in a truly heartfelt way, with the camera extremely close, so only a part of her face is visible.

The film has weak points. The dialogue sometimes feels clumsy and pompous, there are too many subplots and intrigues, and the director indulges a bit too much in the glamorous palace life. But at least this film doesn't make the mistake of cramming too much biographical information into a 100-minute movie. It's an enjoyable movie about one of the most interesting women in film history.

Worth watching for the story

[Figgy66-915-598470 · 7/10 · 11 June 2014]

11 June 2014 Film of Choice at The Plaza Dorchester Tonight - Grace of Monaco. Generally slated by the critics I decided to see this film anyway and I was glad I did. A fictional story based on true events, this enjoyable film was a very haunting portrayal of Grace Kelly's move from Hollywood Princess to Royal Princess and the difficulties that arose during the transition. Centred around the very trying times when Charles de Gaulle was trying to gain control of Monaco, Grace Kelly was portrayed as a lost figure. Lost in her marriage, lost in her identity and lost in her way. Unfortunately, Nicole Kidman, although a very accomplished actress who was dressed well and at time did look very much the princess, did not convince me that she was Princess Grace. For starters physically she was too red, Grace Kelly was blonde, not a Marilyn Monroe sort of blonde but a regal blonde, and a serene blonde, Nicole just looked like a red head, furthermore she didn't make me believe that she was Grace Kelly, I just felt that I could see many of her other parts all tumbling together to try to encompass this icon of movie and Royal history. Having said that, I don't know exactly who could have played the part of Princess Grace of Monaco.........except perhaps ......... Grace Kelly!!!!!

Far from Graceless

[girvsjoint · 6/10 · 13 June 2014]

First of all, this is not a biography, it's about an event that apparently took place in Monaco in the early 1960's. The French President deciding Monaco should pay taxes to France? After all the negative reviews, I was expecting the worst, but was surprised I quite enjoyed it. Nicole Kidman was most effective as Grace Kelly, and I can't think of anyone else today who could have handled that difficult role so well. Tim Roth was not as good looking as the real Prince Rainier, and Nicole's 5'11" towered over him. I thought the guy who played Hitchcock was better than the recent screen versions! Perhaps the film should have been titled 'Monaco in Crisis' or some such, so as not to mislead people into thinking this would be a bio of Grace Kelly?

I liked it!

[petarmatic · 7/10 · 28 May 2014]

I was really pleasantly surprised by this film. It was interesting and well played. I like Nicole Kidman and she really looked like a princess in this film.

Story of Monaco was very interesting and this particular episode in life of the Principality was well described in the history and well portrayed in this film.

In the movie theater where I watched this film 99 percent of the audience were women. I guess all of the dream to marry a Prince charming. Be careful what you wish for, you might get it! My ex got her and she ran for her life ;)

A fairytale on top of a fairytale

[R-Clercx · 6/10 · 24 May 2014]

When you're buying a ticket to a movie called 'Grace of Monaco', then you are expecting a biopic right? However, the movie starts with the message that this is a fictional story based on non fiction events.

Those expecting a full run down on the rise and fall of Grace will be hugely dissatisfied: the story chronicles a political dispute in Monaco about taxes. The director suggests that Grace had a critical role in the outcome of that dispute... but this might also be a fairytale on top of a fairytale (that is probably the fictional part as mentioned at the beginning of the movie).

If anything this movie does not demystify Grace, it only adds to the legend now even accrediting her for solving a major historical problem in France.

Probably would have been better anyway if the tax problem would not have been solved and President De Gaulle would have invaded Monaco because since then it serves as a tax free haven for drug lords and the super rich (who would rather buy another Lambo or Ferrari, rather then to pay the state for redistributing money).

So to me it's puzzling why a mediocre actress who marries royalty in Monaco gets so much attention: it's obvious that the charity goals of Grace are half baked, because she chose to live in abundant luxury herself in a country which hosts mostly tax evaders. So presenting her as some kind of angel figure or a royal Mother Theresa is laughable at best.

Kidman has a good run trying to mimic the angel like posture of Grace, but the lines smother her with cheesy dialog and real drama is nowhere in sight. I missed 10 minutes because I fell asleep but was still perfectly able to follow the storyline... so don't expect any surprises. I asked my companion and he said I did not miss anything... so there you have it.

Let's mess up history then, shall we?

[klasol · 2/10 · 11 January 2019]

The bad thing about messing up history and making a movie about a real person that is not based on facts but fiction is that we tend to remember the movie. So, now thousands of people will believe that Kelly saved Monaco (de Gaulle never went to any ball, the situation was negotiated peacefully with France at the end). They will believe that the marriage with the prince did not include numerous extramarital affairs on both sides and they will believe that Grace was as tall and elegant as Nicole Kidman, the perfect princess. Too bad, because reality was good enough. The movie is beautiful, superbly esthetic, but that is all.

nice

[Kirpianuscus · 14 April 2016]

it is too easy to criticize it. because it is only glamorous homage to a legend of Hollywood. nothing more. the costumes, the lights, Nicole Kidman herself as inspired choice for remind Grace Kelly, Tim Roth as an ambiguous leader looking the better manner for solve the crisis and drive his marriage, the naive crumbs of conspiracy and the characters as sketches are proofs for accept the film only as nice exercise for remind an old fairy tale in its dramatic aspect. it is not a great film. but it is useful trip in atmosphere of a small European state who remains almost a mystery under the sparkles of a lot of seductive activities.

A Princess Comes of Age

[chrisliz57 · 6/10 · 15 May 2014]

The opening titles inform us that while the story is fictitious what we are about to view is based on real events. Therefore I'm wondering why the film wasn't re-titled as How Grace Saved Monaco; because that is exactly the story told in this version and dare I say it, in Hitchcockian Style.

The strengths of this short tale (88 mins) are also it's weaknesses. Audiences will be divided because those who come wanting an overview of a dearly loved princess's ideal life will be disappointed. But for those wanting a film depicting a legend and her possible trials and tribulations, through a short period in her life will find it fascinating. Oh, and if your French, I don't think you'll be happy, but then it is told through American eyes. Watch out for McNamara's sickly throwaway line to DeGaulle late in the film.

Kidman is lovely, but plays Nicole as Grace. I'm not sure Grace had that wandering eyebrow though. Tim Roth plays the insignificant prince, he's serviceable but not mesmerising. And then there are others but it is not their film.

Now about the Hitchcockian style; well that's the thing, I don't want to give anything away! It's worth a look but don't get your hopes up !!

There isn't much grace to be had in this formless, awkwardly-scripted and executed biopic.

[shawneofthedead · 3/10 · 23 May 2014]

Biopics will always come with their fair share of controversy - doubts will inevitably be raised about whether the subject in question was well-served by the film and his or her characterisation therein. Even so, Grace Of Monaco arrives in cinemas dogged by an outsized share of debate and, well, debacle. The script has been openly decried by Princess Grace's children and the entire project overwhelmingly reviled by critics across the world. Distributor Harvey Weinstein reportedly riled French director Olivier Dahan by cooking up an alternative cut of the film. Of course, it's Dahan's version that has premiered in Cannes, to widespread critical derision, so one can't help wondering if Weinstein's cut might actually be better. That's a lot of weight and scandal for one film to bear, most of which is - unfortunately - borne out by the final product.

It's possible to see why everyone involved might have been optimistic about the project. After all, the film purports to pick apart the fairy tale that is Grace Kelly's life - a legendary Hollywood actress finds and marries her real-life prince. In reality, Grace (Nicole Kidman) is struggling to find her place in the tiny principality of Monaco. As she contemplates returning to Hollywood to make another picture - Marnie - with Alfred Hitchcock (Roger Ashton-Griffiths), Grace's husband, Prince Rainier (Tim Roth), finds himself trapped in an increasingly tense face-off with French President Charles De Gaulle. Add in courtly intrigue, an identity crisis or two, a fairytale romance gone a little bit wrong - and it seems the perfect way for Dahan to make his Hollywood debut.

However, much of the sensitivity demonstrated by Dahan in La Vie En Rose, his lovely, bittersweet biopic of Edith Piaf, has been lost in translation. Grace Of Monaco plays far too frequently at the full, high pitch of soapy melodrama, the converging story lines somehow managing to feel overwrought and inconsequential at the same time. Grace frets about her role as wife, mother and princess; Rainier broods moodily about the fate of Monaco; we're led to suspect that Grace's handmaiden Madge (Parker Posey) is a spy within her inner circle - huge, important events within the narrative of the film, but all of them are rendered in paper-thin characterisation and overly ponderous dialogue.

As the film stumbles towards its unlikely climax, it becomes harder and harder to take it seriously. The unravelling threads of Grace's life are clumsily woven together by what amounts to Grace undergoing princess training at the hands of Sir Derek Jacobi's Count Fernando: a montage that would feel clumsy even if grafted into My Fair Lady or The Princess Diaries. Grace Of Monaco also runs afoul of a few odd directorial choices. It's no exaggeration to say that Dahan makes the most excessive use of the close-up since Tom Hooper in Les Miserables - in narrowing the frame to an almost unbearable degree, his camera practically assaults his actors' eyeballs on several occasions.

To be fair to the cast, they try - particularly Kidman, who seems quite committed to giving as rounded a performance of the trapped princess as she can, whatever her director or screenwriter might have in store for her. Her efforts aren't enough to salvage the film but, at least, she's not adding to its many problems. Other reliably good actors chew over but fail to elevate the mediocre script: Roth's Rainier remains a frustratingly opaque character, while Frank Langella is quite wasted as Father Francis Tucker, a pastor whose strangely controlling relationship with Grace adds a few more wrinkles to the already oddly-constructed plot.

In effect, Grace Of Monaco brings to mind that other mess of a princess biopic: Diana. Both films have impressive pedigrees, from director to headlining actress, and both seem to have completely failed to grasp - much less do justice to - their subject. In a pinch, Grace Of Monaco is the (slightly) better film: there are more complexities at play here that can be glimpsed amidst the shilly-shallying of the script. There is, at least, more of an attempt made to look beyond the princess' love story to find the person within. That's not saying much, however. For the most part, Grace Of Monaco is an awkward, frustrating watch - one that ultimately fails to establish its title character as either person or princess.

Nicole Kidman always delivers

[jerryzzz13 · 7/10 · 14 April 2022]

The plot is thin but saved mostly by Kidman's acting, the scenes with her and Tucker were excellently played out, beautiful cinematography and the opulent setting. A shame, given the story line could have been better spinned since it's a fiction.

Still worth a watch.

Grace Kelly's unequaled beauty

[tntconnect · 1/10 · 10 October 2015]

I hope Hollywood would stop using famous and well-known actors to embody famous actors whose lives they pay homage to. As a viewer, my perception becomes too skewed with trying to remember who the homage is for and how well the actor is performing. I would love to imagine the honored person's life being played out in the big screen, if Hollywood doesn't mind. In my opinion, a less known or unknown look-alike would do that. Nicole Kidman is a beautiful actor but I couldn't imagine nor remember Princess Grace. Also, Nicole Kidman does NOT have Grace Kelly's facial bone structure nor the look in her eyes that made Grace Kelly so famous and loved. Now Tim Roth who played the role of Prince Rainier was just frustrating. Disappointing.

Wonderful Movie

[lia00027 · 9/10 · 1 June 2015]

Hahahaha I wonder why people are so comparing this movie with the real life of princess Grace, this is a movie of course not 100% of it depicts 100% real life story of a person. However this movie is excellent to realize one time event of life yup the event where France tried to overtake Monaco but indeed Grace managed to save the whole country and became awesome magnificent princess and mother of 2 for this movie.

Nicole Kidman acting wonderfully well which showed great struggle between staying in a foreign literally different culture with her liberal "freedom to speak" culture hometown, she obviously succeed showing her emotions and grace as the old nobility where "divorce" was taboo at that time. Tim Roth as prince Reiner showing great chemistry with her while not losing his excellent skill of acting. Most of the actors in this movie are great cast with wonderful scenery and setting. The director succeed bringing the best of the actors' skill and kept me watching this movie until the end without a hint of boringness.

I don't really know about the history of Grace Kelly and her family that well just knew her as a beautiful actress and a princess who loved her family dearly but through this movie I really admire her more since she could survive the bad phase of her life and conflicts even though it's not the end of her problems yet she continued her role model as a wonderful princess, wive, and mother.

cheesy, hollywoodian, and yet...

[dingoberserk · 7/10 · 1 June 2014]

After watching this movie, I asked myself why I had enjoyed it, in spite of its cheesiness, in-your-face feel-good-ness and insouciance about detail. Then the penny dropped: it had a straight, comprehensible, linear story line, there were no puzzling flashbacks, the characters were clearly delineated...and, what's more, no foul language, no nudity, no drug-taking, none of the trendy, often forced ingredients of contemporary cinema!

This movie is far from perfect, but it is a breath of fresh air, even if the attempted canonization of Kelly doesn't quite come off as intended by its creators. And, mercifully, it's less than two hours long!

adore your betters, you proles

[myriamlenys · 2/10 · 7 April 2018]

"Grace of Monaco" is mainly bland, polished nonsense, mixed with product placement and name dropping. It wastes your time with random drivel and wanders from one meaningless incident to another. The few ideas it does succeed in having or expressing are unkind, entitled or retrograde. For instance, the viewer is supposed to admire, nay venerate Grace for her brave determination to learn something about the language and culture of Monaco. Can you believe it : she even - gasp ! - talks with some locals !

God ! If you're going to make a new and permanent home in another country, the very least you can do is learn the language. This becomes a positive duty if you're married to a member of the royal family. How are you going to represent or defend your new country, if you're unable to walk into a coffee shop and ask for one coffee, black, two lumps of sugar please ? By the same token, all members of a royal family should be familiar with social habits and traditions - it's one of the most basic requirements for the job.

But no, the viewer is supposed to adore the Grace character for her pluck, bravery and self-sacrifice. Half-hidden beneath this exhortation there are some pretty nasty assumptions and prejudices. Try : "No American should have to learn a foreign language, it's up to foreigners to learn English". Or : "Rich people don't have to worry about the needs and feelings of proles". Or : "If taxpayers throw you large chunks of money, you should not feel obliged to do something in return".

Another idea the movie is trying to sell to you : there is no need to worry about the existence of Panama-like tax havens, provided these havens yield a crop of good-looking celebrities. Still, I for one could live with the thought of the various creators of "Grace" living in undeserved luxury, if that meant that they would never make another movie again.

Utterly mediocre

[Phil_Chester · 29 May 2018]

Really difficult to care about super-rich people maybe having to pay a little tax. Not worth watching. Feels like it belongs in a box set with Natalie Portman doing Jackie and Naomi Watts doing Diana - all of them utterly mediocre.

Better than what critics comment

[kimjaemin2005 · 6/10 · 13 September 2014]

It's a great film to watch if you don't know a thing about Grace Kelly. At the beginning of the film, it states that the film is a fictional drama based on true story so if you are expecting a biopic, don't watch this movie as many critics warn.

Nevertheless, this is a great film to watch. In perspective of an occasional movie watcher, it's not such a bad film as many critics write. Nicole Kidman's acting, I believe, captures the moment quite well. Her struggle and sacrifice as a wife, a princess, and an artist are somewhat inspiring. I also liked how supposedly evil French president resembles Hitler. Most importantly, setting and theme are refreshing. If you liked The Iron Lady, you will probably like this film, too.

Political

[fluturoj · 6/10 · 14 August 2016]

If only politics was so easy and all it takes to manipulate influential leaders with political agendas was a pretty speech and face. I mean really?

I am not familiar with any sort of history regarding the Kingdom of Monaco or Grace Kelly (I only heard about her from this movie) so I won't talk about how correct or representative this movie was, I will treat it as a factional movie with no roots to reality.

The real-life lesson: thinking that all this movie is about is to make us think about real life, I find really hard to pick one concept on which I can reflect. Nothing about this movie makes you think 'I better remember this'. So very poor in this area. Maybe one thing would be that for some people the obligation they have inherited or have been believed with, is much more important that the relationships in their life, especially when they take them from granted as it is the case in kingdom.

Character analysis: Prince Rainier, trying to fulfil his obligation. A good demonstration that having the greatest responsibilities could just be one of the worst things that would happen to you. If you value relationships and feelings (as I do) maybe having the most important job in the country is not the best thing that can happen to you. Grace-clash of cultures. Speaking your mind is sure a good thing but is it really the smartest thing to do when you are trying to politically score points? Thats why is called politics. No one speaks their minds and no one tells the truth.

Plausibility: not in a million years could someone convince me that it would be so easy to end a political conflict. It is true that you can achieve a lot of things based on beauty and rhetoric, it is true that those two can influence weak men but these people in those tables, they were not weak men. You can't win an international conflict by those two alone. There are interests, money and a lot more at stake that can not be given up so easily. Not even for a good public image. Could France not have manipulated the public opinion just as easily since it did seem as quite an easy thing to do. So no, the crucial events in this movie are not plausible at all.

Acting: I must just say that Nicole Kidman was as great as you would expect and as great as it can get. She makes us love Grace, feel for her and even when she is the position of authority there is still something in her that reminds you that she is still the fragile, unconfident woman she was when she first came to Monaco. I just loved her performance. She is indeed very graceful.

Storytelling: It was a bit slow in the middle and it did bore me in the middle. It just seemed that the movie was becoming directionless. But in the end when Grace makes plans, waiting the results of those plans is quite interesting and does engage you. Also, I would it too political most of the time. It felt that the movie was not about Grace but about the conflict that I did not understand at first and took a lot of concentration and effort and a lot of " and what does that mean? Is it and or good" which kind of spoiled the easy of watching this movie. It should be more politically relaxed. And also, all those parts in French. I did not understand a thing which made it boring despite the fact that the meaning could easily be worked out from context.

Hagiography of Grace

[dierregi · 1/10 · 18 November 2016]

After 6 years of marriage to prince Rainier of Monaco (Ray for friends), Grace (Gracie for friends) starts to feel frisky and even more so when Hitch (Hitchcock for you and me) offers her the role of Marnie.

However, Ray is less than thrilled at the idea of Gracie going back to work and to Hollywood. Her part of the deal was to be Monaco's first housewife and stay home with the kids. Ray is grumpy by nature and also because the annoying De Gaulle wants him to pay taxes, otherwise Ray's tiny principality will be annexed by France.

Killing two birds with a stone, not only Gracie decides to start learning French (after 6 years in the country she could hardly say a word) but also she averts the annexation, thanks to a very long (albeit quite boring and predictable) speech delivered at the Red Cross ball.

Can you image what a mighty tragedy could have been if Monaco was annexed to France? A crisis likely to cause WW III. But luckily Gracie diverted all that, thanks to her style and beauty.

Even if I was expecting very little, I would have appreciated a bit about Gracie introducing her Hollywood friends to the ways of Monaco's gambling and partying, as a source of revenue for the principality. But that would have been way too controversial.

However, it was grotesque to see Monaco, a shard of land famous as a tax haven and gambling resort treated with so much deference, as its existence and that of the ruling house of Grimaldi should be preserved for ever...

Obviously I watched this on TV and I would recommend the experience if once in a while you enjoy watching a thoroughly bad movie.

Pedestrian and uninvolving

[neil-476 · 6/10 · 13 June 2014]

Grace Kelly, after several years of marriage to Prince Rainier, is feeling a little constrained when Alfred Hitchcock offers her the lead in Marnie. This coincides with France's President De Gaulle putting economic pressure on an already beleaguered Monaco, presenting Rainier with two conflicting and interlocking pressures to deal with.

I'll be honest, I didn't think this was my sort of film, based on the trailers. And that proved to be the case, though not to the extent I had feared. I was expecting a conventional biopic, but what arrived was more a tale of international intrigue. I admit that it held my attention throughout but, having seen it, I would change channels if it came up on TV. It is rather too leisurely in the telling, there are far too many closeups of Nicole Kidman, held for far too long and, for my money, I never felt that I was watching Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier: Kidman and Tim Roth never really got inside their skins.

A lot of gloss and style, but not a lot of substance or grace

[TheLittleSongbird · 3/10 · 13 August 2016]

Despite the negative reviews, this reviewer saw 'Grace of Monaco' because of its subject matter, Grace Kelly being one of the most naturally beautiful and full-of-depth-and-grace classic film stars, and because Nicole Kidman has given a lot of good performances in her career.

Unfortunately 'Grace of Monaco' disappointed heavily. There are some great biopics around ('Amadeus' and 'The Elephant Man' being prime examples') but also some naff ones. While not quite as poor as 'Diana' or 'William and Kate', films with much worse editing and feel far more like Lifetime projects, 'Grace of Monaco' is one of the naff ones if not entirely without honour.

The best thing about 'Grace of Monaco' is the production values, the sumptuous costumes, sets and scenery looking absolutely breath-taking often. The film is very nicely shot too, though it's not without its dizzying or pedestrian moments in the editing.

It is agreed that Nicole Kidman is miscast, which will be and has been a turn-off for most, being at least a decade too old, four inches too tall (Kelly was tall but not as much as Kidman who is one of the tallest actresses in Hollywood) and not as natural a beauty as evident in some stiff and plastic facial expressions. However, it is whether she gave a good enough performance despite the miscasting that matters, and Kidman actually gives a very committed performance, that's charismatic and deeply felt too. The other good performance is the gleefully enjoyable Hitchcock of Roger Ashton-Griffiths, who does try to bring needed urgency to the proceedings, the culminating banquet actually being the film's dramatic highlight.

However, Tim Roth is too archetypal and too much of a dork as Rainier, while Robert Lindsay plays his very roughly drawn character too broadly and Derek Jacobi and particularly Frank Langella are wasted. There are some odd accents going on as well, as well as a lack of chemistry, and the characters are bland or annoying stereotypes, some not feeling relevant to the story and are as plastic as Kidman's Botox.

Faring worst are the very empty and half-baked script that sounds like soap opera past its sell by date, an overwrought and over-bearing music score that is too reminiscent of a comedy or a heavy-handed drama and the direction which sees violent and frequently jarring shifts in tone that suggests that those responsible had no idea what the film was trying to be or what to focus on. The story tries to be careful not to offend, but ends up being dull, dramatically soggy and laughably ridiculous with an overlong running time that makes some of the story feel stretched.

Overall, hugely disappointing, looks good and Kidman's performance is committed but what gives a film weight, depth and staying power is lost in translation. 3/10 Bethany Cox

This Film Has a Strong Sense of Deja Vu, Especially for Those Who Have Seen 'Diana'

[l_rawjalaurence · 6/10 · 24 September 2014]

Watching this biopic of Grace Kelly, viewers must inevitably be reminded of Oliver Hirschbiegel's DIANA (2013). In the earlier film Diana (Naomi Watts) was portrayed as a woman more sinned against than sinning, who despite a unique telegenic ability, was still very much the ugly duckling of the British Royal Family. The feeling of being an outsider drove her into an assertive mood, which found its apotheosis in the divorce from Prince Charles and the subsequent relationships with James Hewitt and Dodi Fayed.

Likewise in Olivier Dahan's biopic Grace Kelly (Nicole Kidman) is ostracized by the Monegasque Court, despite her privileged status as the wife of Prince Rainier (Tim Roth). Try as she might, she can never seem to win them over; she is always perceived as a Hollywood star playing the role of her life. It is only when she listens to the sage advice of fellow-American Father Francis Tucker (Frank Langella) about the importance of taking her responsibilities seriously that she acquires both the strength of will and the self- possession to save Monaco from being colonized permanently by the French under Charles de Gaulle (André Penvern). Once she achieves that feat, she gains the kind of acceptance with the powers that be that Diana never enjoyed.

Dahan's film captures the glitter of the Monegasque court, as well as its superficialities; its emphasis on outward show as embodied in the many official parties and ceremonial occasions. As in DIANA, the Royal Family is awash with petty dislikes and plots; Grace discovers to her cost that her husband's position as head of state is being deliberately undermined by members of his own family. But in a world committed to surfaces, such treacheries cannot be brought to the surface: everyone smiles, bows and scrapes in front of the Prince and Princess, however much the monarchs might be disliked.

The film contains some remarkably good impersonations: Roger Ashton- Griffiths is far more convincing as Alfred Hitchcock than either Anthony Hopkins or Toby Jones (who have both played the great director on screen in the last few years). Robert Lindsay is almost unrecognizable as Aristotle Onassis, complete with a Greek accent strongly reminiscent of Harry Enfield's Eighties comedy character Stavros. By contrast Paz Vega communicates the vulnerabilities lurking beneath the confident surface of Maria Callas' character; like Kelly herself, she was caught in a gilded cage and had to make the best of life within it.

Perhaps not the most distinguished biopic, GRACE OF MONACO nonetheless tells a parable for our times about the difficulties of leading a life as a permanent celebrity, especially in cultures ostensibly venerating their Royal Families.

A dreary Sunday TV matinée that should be a grand biopic

[TheSquiss · 4/10 · 13 June 2014]

Oliver Dahan's biopic of Hollywood's darling, Grace Kelly, has been pretty much thumped by critics universally. Most would have you believe Grace of Monaco is an arduous, dull swamp of a film on a par with Oliver Hirschbiegel flop, Diana.

It isn't. Not quite.

Described as a fictional story based on true events, Grace of Monaco looks at Grace Kelly's (Nicole Kidman) struggle to maintain her own identity as her marriage to Monaco's Prince Rainier III (Tim Roth) bounces around the rocks while her husband's subjects reject her and his staff resent her. Add to that Charles De Gaulle's impending invasion and the principality's nosedive into economic ruin, and all was not happy in Grace's life. Allegedly.

Grace of Monaco is a long way from Dahan's 2007 biopic triumph, La Vie en Rose. It is far too long, far too dull, with questionable 'truth' and rather too much melodrama. Dahan repeatedly cuts to lingering ECUs of Kidman's eyes, vainly hoping that soft focus shots of her regal visage will imbue his film with serenity and beauty. It doesn't. It merely serves to increase the boredom and slow the pace still further.

No matter how good Kidman and Roth are, they cannot raise Grace of Monaco above the status of star Sunday afternoon matinée to the magnificent period piece it desperately wants to be. Both actors are pleasant to watch here with Grace's relationship with Frank Langella's Father Tucker a highlight that allows Kidman to scratch under the veneer of the princess. Likewise, Roth is more than adequate as the overbearing monarch who occasionally remembers to show he cares about his wife, but it lacks the truth of his sensitive and truthful performance in last year's fantastic Broken.

When Roger Ashton Griffiths waddles onto the screen as Hitchcock aiming to seduce Grace Kelly back to Hollywood, the teeth begin to rattle as memories of Toby Jones pouring out the definitive depiction of Hitch in The Girl diminish anything that Ashton Grifiths can produce. Amongst the supporting cast Robert Lindsay, surprisingly cast as Aristotle Onassis, and Derek Jacobi as Count Fernando D'Aillieres engage the eye but there is a very odd collection of accents on display for a film set in an annex of France.

The production design is eye-catching and detracts momentarily from the clunky dialogue, but it isn't sufficient compensation. Contrary to popular opinion, Grace of Monaco is not a turkey. It is merely overlong and dull. Approach with low expectations and you won't be disappointed.

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Never Read Critiques Before Watching

[oneleggoalie · 8/10 · 2 September 2020]

A classic example of a fun and very watchable movie blighted by wrong expectations...biased sentiments...and unfathomable demands.

This film clearly states at the start that it is a "fictional story based on true events"...and as such should be viewed as pure entertainment.

It's a small movie with big aspirations...and just plain fun to watch.

Strong acting...not easily pulled off...and highly professional.

Watched it on Netflix with no expectations...found myself pleasantly and sometimes emotionally invested in the "fairytale"...and like all good fairy tales...this is dark in surprising ways.

Watch it for the cast...and don't be too harsh.

A History with Grace

[PadmeAgnes · 7/10 · 10 July 2014]

During an important moment in Monaco's history, Gracia of Monaco has to decide to either become a real princess or be Grace Kelly the movie star again.

The film is interesting for 1) the costumes - just pure delight ! The Bains de la Mer Ruby Tiara is the real thing, not sure about the necklace but if not, it's a great copy. The white conference dress (top), is a good copy but misses the beautiful skirt embroidery and they could have done a bit more on the hair though. I have a picture of Princess Grace in this outfit on my pinterest board (http://www.pinterest.com/ydnewstyle/tiara-glamour-monaco/).

2) the historic background is interesting. Monaco is such a small country, normally it falls of the charts of history. Heard about the French threat but never thought that was a serious consideration. Believing this movie, it was.

3) even though it must have been a real miserable time for Grace, it still remains a fairy story: a princess, a prince, romance. Her personal drama doesn't diminish that and precisely that's what's wrong with this movie. Where the movie Diana was aiming at only drama, this movie failed to create a connection.

Occasionally there are film shots of Nicole Kidman were she amazingly looks like Grace Kelly. Unfortunately she sounds like Nicole almost all the time. More voice coaching would have improved this movie tremendously. Just wonder why does she keep picking characters that cry a lot? Instead of sympathy, I felt annoyed.

Tim Roth had the ungrateful task to play prince Rainer. Difficult character, sometimes he convinced me but he couldn't make me believe why she fell in love with him ... and that was a good element of the movie.

Overall an enjoyable film, I might going to watch again ... for the costumes and the glamour.

A fiasco that utterly lacks Grace.

[JLA-2 · 1/10 · 26 May 2015]

I can't believe so many people have given this movie any stars. It's both ridiculous and inept. So, where to begin?

The idea that France would annex Monaco is treated with the world-shaking importance of the Cuban Missile Crisis. It's a spat about taxes. Hardly earth-shaking. Another crisis is whether Grace will return to Hollywood, beckoned by Hitchcock, to star in "Marnie." That movie was also a mess with Tippi Hedren and is certainly on the bottom of the Hitchcock oeuvre, alongside "Topaz". It would have been no better with Grace Kelly. The script meanders about with one poorly conceived scene after the next. None, even vaguely plausible. Do you think that people went around calling Rainier "Ray" and Grace "Gracie"? I think not.

As for Nicole Kidman, not for one minute does she look like Grace Kelly - or even seem to try. Kidman has red hair when Grace Kelly was one of the world's great blonds. Didn't anybody care? In addition, Kidman's face is as waxy as a polished dance floor. In endless, painful close-ups, Kidman looks like an ad for what can go wrong with too much Botox. She makes no effort to convey the famous Kelly, breathy speech pattern. And, while there are some beautiful gowns, her hair is simply unlike the way Princess Grace wore her hair. Real jewels from Cartier - with a nice product placement leaving the Paris store - can't make up for this plastic performance.

Tim Roth doesn't look like Rainier. Neither do the Onassis or Callas stand-ins. But why bother?

This is simply an insult to Monaco, to the memory of Le Princesse Grace, the craft of screen writing and the art of film making. This was jeered at its opening of the Cannes Film Festival. Rightfully so.