The Queen

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I loved how the actors presented the actual characters, and I love how the movie talks about the real and still alive people, with respect but still openly, how it shows them as vulnerable, thoughtful, complex and not as cold as we normally assume them. I enjoyed the movies sceneries, not only London, which I love, but also the nature of stunning Scotland. I would rewatch the movie only for those scenes.

THE QUEEN (2006) *** Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell, Sylvia Syms, Alex Jennings, Helen McCrory, Roger Allam. Mirren gives an Oscar caliber turn as Queen Elizabeth II in an uncanny inhabitation of Her Royal Majesty in the aftermath of the death of Princess Diana and the way the royals badly dealt with the ongoing circus of her subsequent funeral proceedings that lead to a cautious yet alert newly elected Prime Minister Tony Blair (Sheen, equally good) to prod the queen to do the right thing in the eyes of her loyal subjects. With impeccable grace and ultimately humanity Mirren scores the unthinkable: making a figurehead – seemingly outdated – of significance and as a human being, a reluctant empathetic subject. (Dir: Stephen Frears)

Am I missing something here? For all the awards this film won, and the amount of press it gained at the time of its release I sat down to watch it expecting something special. I was wrong. This film is slow, biased, and lacking in any sort of enjoyable qualities. There was so much fuss about Helen Mirren's striking accurate portrayal of The Queen and Michael Sheen's version of Tony Blair, but having seen both I'm still waiting to see what all the fuss was about. I did not enjoy this film. I thought it was poor.

A truly remarkable film- the fifth in George Romero's fabled zombie series- THE QUEEN takes up where LAND OF THE DEAD left off. The Living Dead have taken over (there's not a single living soul in evidence anywhere in the film) and have established a monarchy of their own. This one's set in Jolly Old England- but, unlike the hilarious SHAUN OF THE DEAD, THE QUEEN lacks the humor that made the former tolerable. The result of this lack of humor is a staid, motionless picture that fails to entertain on any level. The makeups sported by the principals are very lifelike, but, given the fact that these zombies do little more than walk and talk, that isn't saying much; most remain totally expressionless throughout the proceedings. If you're a die-hard lover of The Living Dead (as am I), you may want to give this one a wide berth.

Helen Mirren fully embodies the personality of Queen Elizabeth II to give the film an almost documentary feeling. Its portrayal is more personal and shows the tension between the royal family's roles as people and as public figures. It was a curious angle to show the personal aftermath of Princess Diana's death and not much of her life, but the premise is used to good effect.

31 January 2007. Helen Mirren offers up a fabulous and intimate possible version of the current Queen of England who must balance between tradition and modernization upon the election of Tony Blair, the new prime minister with new ideas and the impending tragic death of Princess Diana. This movie provides a whole new fictional but possible insight into the behind the scenes politics and emotional tension of the Royal family as well as a fascinating look at the role of Britain's prime minister. Mirren's performance is both deeply moving and sophisticated, intimate and unexpectedly casual and refined. The smooth editing of Princess Diana's actual footage and other background events, along with the cast performances creates an elegant, compelling, and truly brilliant cinematic experience. Except for the casting of the Queen's husband that detracted from the natural film experience, the movie was nearly perfect. Nine out of Ten Stars.

Stephen Frears directs this outstanding fictional account of real events. On the eve of Tony Blair(Michael Sheen)becoming the United Kingdom's new Prime Minister, Queen Elizabeth II(Helen Mirren)makes small talk while sitting for an official portrait. She contemplates the slick and image conscious Blair and what will come of his promise to 'modernize' the country. Suddenly the nation and the world begins reeling as Princess Diana dies in a auto accident in France. The British populace is awestruck with the lack of acknowledgment from The Queen. The British Government seems to be sitting on its hands as the nation grieves and waits to see what the Queen will do in honor of the "People's Princess". Heartfelt and riveting; a beautifully photographed and crafted drama. Mirren is brilliant