The true life account of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's plight with sudden polio onset in his pre-political career and the struggle he maintained to fight the disease  for a miracle cure at a water therapy  center in Georgia circa 1921 and ultimately make a successful bid for his dreams: President of the United States.

CRITIQUE

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a giant among men and his political career (three consecutive White House terms; unprecedented in US History) was the stuff of legend but many didn't know his early trauma when he was stricken with polio at 29 which nearly sidelined him permanently, crushing his hopes and dreams, and worst of all : his spirit.

Kenneth Branagh gives a remarkable turn as FDR, all provincial civility (and occasional grandeur of pettiness), with trademark aplomb and dignity, making Roosevelt's plight truly dramatic as he attempted to find a cure after several attempts thru various remedies and therapies failed, leading him to Georgia where a water pool spa run by Tom Loyless (a fine form Tim Blake Nelson), providing solace and eventually redemption.  Led by his speculative yet plucky wife Eleanor (Sex and the City's Cynthia Nixon, equally excellent) whose determination was only undermined by her stolid, no-nonsense mother-in-law Sara (a prim and strong performance by grand dame Jane Alexander) who at first dismisses her proud son's dilemma as a funeral curse that would lead to his downfall in a strive for a political career.  But thanks to his aide-de-campe Louis Howe (resourceful David Paymer) who is fiercely resolved to see that FDR gets his shot, FDR has his goals set: to walk again.

Leading the dream is a therapist named Helena Mahoney (low-key yet wonderful Kathy Bates) who helps inspire him to use his dilemma as hope for thousands of other victims who eventually make a pilgrimage to the rustic and run-down solarium.  At first he is embarrassed, afraid and egotistical in 'sharing' his seclusion and treatment but immediately recognizes their hardships and kicks start a grass roots plan to buy the real estate and turn it into a new institution for polio affected patients.

The acting is superb as well as the smart screenplay by Margaret Nagle (an impressive scribe debut) and skillfully directed by veteran Joseph Sargent (The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3) that avoids treacle in what could have been a standard Hallmark event film (though there are some inspired moments including a little girl's heartbreaking first steps with her braces; a bum rushing by FDR & Eleanor of a local medical convention to draw attention to their mission and a young couple dancing for the first time ) instead keeps HBO Pictures a premiere contender (nominated for 16 Emmys in this year's bid!) in their prestigious record of exemplary filmmaking.  And in a word it is just that: exemplary.

THE VIDEO

The transfer is handsome - Robbie Greenberg's cinematography is warm and fuzzy on its edges with an incandescent glow, rich autumnal look - that has a Norman Rockwell feel and is presented 16:9 anamorphic widescreen.

THE AUDIO

Standard offering of 5.1 Dolby Digital and 2.0. A Spanish 2.0 track is also presented. Subtitle options include English, Spanish and French. The audio presentation is clear as a bell.

THE EXTRAS

Informative jocular joint commentary by director Sargent and writer Nagle offering informative tidbits about the production (her personal experience with a disable d brother in an accident sparked her idea to write 20 drafts (!) about the young FDR's triumph of the spirit) and some history too (FDR's trademark head tilting was to draw attention away from his crippled legs; this comes as a genuine surprise to Sargent when Nagle mentions this since he would've infused this with Branagh to use!)  Nagle is a true MVP in her delightful asides about the ensemble actors particularly the lesser-known character actors (and their true-life counterparts). Also noteworthy is the use of CGI, prosthetics and a real-life polio victim doubling for Branagh and the fact that it was filmed at the actual Warm Springs sight that adds some divine authenticity to the proceedings at hand.

There's a barely 5 minute featurette and a few deleted scenes as well.

FINAL THOUGHT