film review: the special relationship

The Special Relationship examines the connection between the former US President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who wanted to implement their ‘centre-left’ agenda and who shared similar political views, until their friendship ended due to events such as the Monica Lewinsky affair and the war in Kosovo. Indeed, the film opens with a quote from Oscar Wilde stating, “a true friend stabs you in the front.”

Michael Sheen has here reprised his role as Tony Blair for the third time: he was previously seen in The Deal and in the award-winning film The Queen.  Helen McCrory again plays Cherie, the prime minister’s wife. Dennis Quaid as Clinton is somewhat convincing – he has managed to convey Clinton’s tone of voice very well, and his appearance is not too far off. Clinton is portrayed as an eccentric figure, and he is constantly seen eating and cracking jokes, and at one point he notes how “attractive” Blair is, which adds humour to the film. As many critics have noted, Hope Davis portrays Hillary Clinton wonderfully. While she is seen wearing a pair of fake buckteeth, she appears to be a confident and together first lady, who as we know, was a significant influence in Clinton’s presidency.

The title of the film was coined by Winston Churchill in 1946 and refers to the US/UK’s close relationship – beginning with Churchill and Theodore Roosevelt, continuing with Ronald Regan and Margaret Thatcher, and as captured in this film, progressing to Clinton and Blair (a relationship which seems to have seamlessly converted to Blair and Bush in the final moments). The film suggests that their special relationship ended as the result of their conflicting views of action in regards to the crisis in Kosovo (and Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic’s genocidal regime) in 1998.

The film concludes with Clinton warning Blair about the new administration as George W Bush is inaugurated as President. Archival footage then depicts Blair and Bush at their first press conference at Camp David, and Blair’s readiness to follow Bush – into two wars in the future, which contributed to his own political demise.

With a well-suited cast, effective set designs, and shots of both the White House in Washington DC and Parliament in London The Special Relationship is an interesting depiction of a short-lived political friendship.