Special Relationship, The (BBC-2 2010, Michael Sheen, Dennis Quaid)

Drama The Special Relationship focuses on the friendship between Bill Clinton and Tony Blair. Picking up in 1993 when Blair was only just beginning to make in roads into the upper echelons of the Labour party but using Bill Clinton’s own strategies to run for leader he becomes Prime Minister in 1997. Through heady times, major scandals the pair develop their “special” friendship until the growing crisis in Kosovo signals the fact that Blair is, if it comes down to it, willing to go his own way…

Michael Sheen breaks out his special Tony Blair impersonation once again in this excellent co-production between the BBC and HBO, Dennis Quaid also does well as Clinton. This was the third time Sheen had played Blair, having portrayed him in The Queen and The Deal (both of which were also written by Peter Morgan). American viewers may find it has a little too much emphasis on the British side of things but don’t let that put anybody off as it is an intelligent insight into the inner lives of these two men.

production details
UK / BBC-2 – HBO / 1×90 minute episode / Broadcast Saturday 18 September 2010 @ 9.00pm

Writer: Peter Morgan / Music: Alexandre Desplat / Production Design: Maria Djurkovic / Costumes: Consolata Boyle / Producers: Frank Doelger, Tracey Scoffield, Ann Wingate / Director: Richard Loncraine

cast
MICHAEL SHEEN as Tony Blair
DENNIS QUAID as Bill Clinton
HELEN McCRORY as Cherie Blair
HOPE DAVIS as Hillary Clinton
CHRIS WILSON as Gordon Brown
MARK BAZELEY as Alastair Campbell
LARA PULVER as Intern
JONATHAN POWELL as Adam Godley
DEMETRI GORITSAS as The Strategist
STEWART ALEXANDER as Tom The White House Electrician
KARRY SHALE as Advisor to the Clintons
ROBERT ROMAN RATAJCZAK as Journalist
ROBERT HARRISON O’NEIL as Party Greeter
JOHN SCHWAB as White House Reporter
PAULINE STONE as Labour MP
RICHARD WALKER as Concorde Captain
MARK BARROWS as American Stratogist
ADAM ROBINSON as Limo Driver
JOE GOLBY as Police Officer
SIMON O’CONNELL as Helicopter Pilot
ROARKE ALEXANDER as Photographer
JEFFERSON KING as British Labour MP
EMILY ROBINSON as RAF Officer
MARTYN MOORE as Airline Passenger
MICHAEL WARREN as Concorde Co-Pilot