Movie Review: The Deal starring Michael Sheen as Tony Blair

Loosely based on the novel The Rivals by James Naughtie, and originally aired as a docudrama on HBO in 2007, The Deal is a BAFTA award winner for Best Drama. Directed by Academy Award-nominee Stephen Frears, the film stars Michael Sheen (Blood Diamond, The Queen) as Tony Blair, and David Morrissey (The Reaping) as Gordon Brown.

The Deal tells the story (some true, some dramatized) of a developing relationship between Brown and his young protégé, Blair, which began in 1983. Shortly after political failures of the British Labour party in elections, the two met and became friends. They shared common views on politics and a desire to see their party return to political prominence. As the young Blair, a charismatic and well-spoken leader begins to shine more brightly as a candidate for a prominent role in British politics, some tension and rivalry brews in the relationship.

The beauty of the film is that it shares some of the close conversations and discussions that were carried on between key British political figures between 1983 and 1994. It provides a close up view of how British politics developed during a tense time in world politics. It shows how Tony Blair became positioned to become the Labour Party leader in 1994 and Britain’s Prime Minister in 1997, with Brown his chancellor of the exchequer, in control of national finances.

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