The Queen [M]

When the news of the death of Princess Diana, the “People’s Princess”, is broken to a shocked and disbelieving British public, Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II retreats behind the walls of Balmoral Castle with her family to deal with the shock and grief with privacy and dignity, unable to imagine the public response to the tragedy. For newly elected and popular Prime Minister, Tony Blair, the nation’s need for reassurance and support from its leaders is palpable, and he faces a great challenge: reconnecting the Queen with her public. 

There is something incredibly engaging about these dramas that depict and then delve deeper into real events in the life and times of famous leaders. The King’s Speech, Frost/Nixon, and now The Queen make it into my list of Most Memorable Films. 

When the news of the death of Princess Diana, the “People’s Princess”, is broken to a shocked and disbelieving British public, Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II retreats behind the walls of Balmoral Castle with her family to deal with the shock and grief with privacy and dignity, unable to imagine the public response to the tragedy. For newly elected and popular Prime Minister, Tony Blair, the nation’s need for reassurance and support from its leaders is palpable, and he faces a great challenge: reconnecting the Queen with her public. 

What, I think, is so great about these particular types of dramas is the fact that, not only that they are based on or inspired by true events, but the fact that they are so intriguing without the need for any special effects or the like. All these films run on are good scripts and strong performances; elements that, I believe, require a lot of stamina and talent, and ones that are completely natural and pure and not flashing lights and colourful diversions. But, seriously, fair play to all those involved in the more visual and technical side of filmmaking. I only dish it because it involves a lot of smarts and brainpower that I simply do not possess. Rock on! 

Headline for this film: Helen Mirren is a Dame! A complete and utter dame! Her performance was so strong and so moving and so memorable. I mean she did everything with a stern and dignified sense of duty, which only made it all the more powerful and tear-inducing when she had more emotional scenes such as the scene with the stag and the scene with the flowers outside Buckingham Palace; I didn’t bawl, but there were silent tears rolling down my face during that scene! Wow! That’s all I can say: WOW! 

Starring Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, Alex Jennings, James Cromwell, Roger Allam, Helen McCrory, and Syvlia Sysm, The Queen is a breathtaking film filled with duty, dignity, publicity, real footage, and stunning performances. It’s incredibly engaging and, quite rightly, earned Helen Mirren the Acadmey Award for Best Actress in 2007. It really is a stunning film and I would highly recommend it.