‘Do you think reticence like yours is a specifically Scottish trait?‘
2003 was arguably the seminal year for the premiership of Tony Blair. It was in March of that year that the invasion of Iraq began, so this comparably inconsequential drama, broadcast for television in September 2003, about the rise of Blair and his rivalry with Gordon Brown arguably felt anachronistic immediately on release. This renders the whole film with an unfortunate air of low stakes triviality which is a shame because the performances here really are great…
The Deal, from director Stephen Frears (The Queen) and writer Peter Morgan (The Crown) charts the rise and rise of Gordon Brown (David Morrissey) and Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) from junior ministers to the biggest job in the country. Interwoven within this story is the tale of two friends whose relationship is ultimately marked by envy and a perceived betrayal. The idea being that Brown believed that both men had an agreement that if the Labour leadership was to become available, it would be him rather than Blair that contested that leadership. Blair disagreed when it came to the crunch, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Frears’ made-for-tv movie is the first of a trilogy of films in which Sheen portrays Blair (the others being The Queen and The Special Relationship), but Sheen already has the former PM down pat. Sheen has always been more than a mere impressionist and his performance here is both nuanced and compelling. Morrissey’s take on Brown is a little more ostentatious, but it is a lot of fun, and the scenes that the two share together are undoubtedly the highlight here. Indeed, the supporting cast struggle to make much of an impact with Dexter Fletcher and Paul Rhys forgettable as Charlie Whelan and Peter Mandelson respectively.
Whilst nowhere near as captivating as The Queen, The Deal works as a time capsule for a time when political scandal was more salacious than tragedy inducing. Well worth a watch for those interested in the politics of the era.