The Queen

By: Andrew Moran

4 Stars out of 5 Stars

Starring: Roger Allam, James Cromwell, Alex Jennings, Helen McCrory, Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen & Sylvia Syms

The Queen is an intimate behind the scenes glimpse at the interaction between HM Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Tony Blair during their struggle, following the death of Diana, to reach a compromise between what was a private tragedy for the Royal family and the public's demand for an overt display of mourning

The Queen is one of the best in-depth looks into the Queen’s personal life during the tragic events of Princess Diana’s death.  The Queen had all the major characters and mixed in with drama and actual newsreel footage, which was unique in a sense that a lot of films nowadays wouldn’t even dare to do that.  As I was watching this film I couldn’t help but think about how different the people feel about certain leaders in the monarchy as opposed to North America where people wouldn’t really care if a President was assassinated, hence Death of a President, or if some Mayor was shot.  This was truly great to watch to actually see the Queen’s people taking an emotional interest into their leaders.  Also what made this picture interesting was the fact that they didn’t make this into a political thriller, meaning that they didn’t bring one conspiracy up that Prince Charles and or Prince Philip planned Princess Diana’s death, so that was a plus.

The Queen was a wonderfully directed picture.  Stephen Frears (Dirty Pretty Things & Mrs. Henderson Presents) had great range in his shots as he went from Buckingham Palace to a modest flat of Prime Minister Tony Blair.  This picture really showed how beautiful England really is and that there still is culture and history and leaders still have values. 

The Film Score was marvelous in a sense that it actually played the music that should have been intended to have.  And I’m talking about Marie Antoinette’s film score, which contained of 80’s Rock n’ Roll Music, which definitely should have not been used.  I mean Prime Minister Blair wanted to modernize England’s Government but they didn’t use any sort of ‘hip’ music. So again that was a plus, to me anyway.

The actors did a tremendous especially Helen Mirren (Elizabeth & Shadowboxer), who earlier this year played Queen Elizabeth I.  Michael Sheen (Underworld & Kingdom of Heaven), who played Tony Blair, really played the character of Tony Blair well because Prime Minister Blair was really loved by the people during his early years of being Prime Minister.  However, the best character, to me, was definitely James Cromwell’s (L.A. Confidential & The Sum of all Fears) character Prince Philip.  Maybe in real life he was out of whack but in this film he reminded me of a little of me.

Overall this was a magnificent picture, which will surely be Oscar worthy and definitely Helen Mirren, an Oscar Nomination for Best Actress and will most likely win it; unless Cate Blanchett can be superb in Babel and The Good German.