THE QUEEN

Review: This is the story of the death of Princess Diana and how Queen Elizabeth struggles with her reaction to a sequence of events which nobody could have ever predicted.
Director: Stephen Frears
Actors: Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell, Alex Jennings, Roger Allam, Sylvia Syms, Robin Soans, Douglas Reith, Pat Laffan, John McGlynn and Gray O’Brien
Year: 2006
Genre: Biography, Drama and History
Conclusion: 4/5
Interestingly like so many films (e.g. Mrs. Brown, 1997) this began life as a low-key UK television project. This film took $56 million just in the US theatres. I love Michael Sheen’s performance of Tony Blair. No other actor could have imitated him in the same way. He got the mannerisms just right and looked the part. James Cromwell also gives a superb performance as the Duke of Edinburgh . Overall it is Helen Mirren’s performance that makes the film work and is faultless. When this film was premiered at the Venice Film Festival her performance received a five-minute standing ovation. Apparently it is reported that Helen Mirren was praised by Queen Elizabeth herself and invited her for dinner at Buckingham Palace. Unfortunately she could not attend due to other filming commitments at the time. A very brave film for Stephen Frears to have directed at the time as the subject matter was still so raw in peoples’ minds. He also directed the wonderful Prick Up Your Ears (1987). At the Academy Awards in 2007 Helen Mirren won an Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. At the Golden Globe Awards in 2007 this won 2 awards, They were for Best Performance by and Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama (Helen Mirren) and also Best Screenplay – Motion Picture. At the Bafta Awards in 2007 this won 2 awards. They were for Best Film and Best Actress in a Leading Role (Helen Mirren).