Queen of the Desert (2015)

	Also Known As: Königin der Wüste
	Year of first release: 2015
	Director: Werner Herzog
	Actors: Nicole Kidman, James Franco, Jay Abdo, Holly Earl
	Country: USA, MA
	Genre: Romance
	Conditions of visioning: 24.08.2015, Schauburg, OV Sneak Preview
Synopsis: Gertrude Bell (Kidman) is the daughter of a Lord and rejects the traditional image of the woman in the Victorian Great Britain. She becomes an experienced explorer and works with the British Empire not for it when the first world war. In her travel she meets Henry Cadogan (Franco), an embassy employee, Fattuh (Abdo), her beduin guide.
Review: It makes several weeks that the OV Sneak Preview does not bring good movie. One again! The potentially interesting story of Gertrude Bell and her role in the building of Baghdad archeaological museum are not really told. The interest of Bell for the Middle East cultures is not shown at all. The only talks with natives are about her beauty and her stubbornness. The story is focused on the love story with the British Casanova Cadogan. At the end, it looks like Churchill considers the opinion of a beautiful traveler only because she speaks the native languages. Is this an innuendo of the USA to the bad European and specially British policy in the Middle East at that time? Any viewer would make the connection with the current situation in Syria and Iraq. The is no actor playing well or seriously his role. Kidman looks hung-up and not only because her new surgeries. Franco looks ridiculous of false romantism. Even Abdo and other side roles are killing their roles when they look at the camera by distraction, clearly not on purpose. In that sense the direction is awful as well as many scenes look either unrealistic or far-fetched only to enhance the romance.  Only one thing could be remembered: Nicole Kidman in a wet T-shirt show in the desert. Ridiculous.
Rating: 1 /10