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One of the best portrayals of Queen Elizabeth during some of the most dire of circumstances facing her reign. Her strength, dignity and determination, won her the love and respect of her beloved people and the rest of the world. Miss Mirren was astonishingly powerful in her role, which almost made this feature seem more like a biographical account of her royal majesty's life. Wonderful entertainment for the entire family at a very affordable EBAY price. Luzmarina
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With "The Queen," Stephen Frears (High Fidelity, The Grifters)tosses away any chance he might have had at a kinghthood.The royal family he brings to the screen is basicallly a parasitical, priggish clan of emotional retards. Nonetheless, his treatment of Elizabeth II is even-handed and sympathetic (up to a point), though I doubt Her Majesty would see it as such.Helen Mirren in the title role doesn't so much play the part of Elizabeth as steal her very identity. Even physically, she shape-shifts into the Queen's body double; Mirren, a statuesque beauty, shrinks herself into a prim, constipated Mother Superior with a mannish walk and the look of continually smelling vile odors. The 2006 Oscar for Best Actress had Helen Mirren's name written all over it.
Helen Mirren does a fantastic job portraying the Queen of England in this dramatic film following the life of royalty during a time of crisis. The Queen portrays the day in and day out thoughts, feelings, and actions of Queen Elizabeth II as Tony Blair is elected into office and Princess Diana dies in a car accident. The film is incredibly well done, the directing, writing, and acting are all superb. This movie is more a semi-fictionalized documentary if anything so you have to know what you are getting into with this movie. It's certainly not for everyone as it can be a little dull or slow going at times. However, if you are interested in getting an inside look at what it may really be like to live as royalty in these modern times, this was a unique and fascinating film.
I did not think I was going to like the film. Had NO Interest in it when released. Being from the United States I have NO interest in the British Royal Family, Princess Diana, any of them. I watched the film 1 day & did enjoy it. Helen did deserve the Oscar for the role. Only other film of hers I had ever seen was I was 1st in the door opening day for "The Mosquito Coast". And, I believe the film. Yep, we knew they did NOT care about Diana. Arranged marriage & she ended up cheating in the marriage as well. Has normal extras on the DVD. I am VERY DISAPPOINTED Helen did not do a commentary. This is HER FILM & won the Oscar for it. WHERE IS SHE? Of course, ruined by the I HATE THEM WHY WERE THEY MADE FLIP THE LITTLE FLAP OPEN DVD CASE.
Before I even discuss "The Queen", I have to say what a wonderful performance by Helen Mirren. She actually becomes Queen Elizabeth II and we believe it is really her in the movie. She really deserved her Oscar. But now to the surprises in the movie. Although Queen Elizabeth took a beating when Princess Diana died, we learn that it wasn't all caused by the rift between the two women. It is true that the Queen did not like Diana because Diana talked to the press many times about her problems with Charles, her husband. But we learn further that Queen Elizabeth is so wrapped up in the tradition of the monarchy that she feels that she has to remain dignified and aloof throughout the ordeal, even saying many times that Diana was no longer part of the Royal Family and that the funeral service should be a private Spencer happening. Other surprises: (1) We see the Queen actually driving an SUV type vehicle over Scotland's backroads. WOW, I could never picture that. (2) We see Charles in a different light in the fact that he was sympathetic to Diana and wanted to do the right thing for her funeral, which was to have a big, lavish, formal celebration of her life. He must not have been completely wrapped up with Camilla. (3) We see the Queen show lots of emotion toward the killing of a magnificent stag while showing little emotion toward Diana. We see her surrounded by dogs that she commands to stay back and they mind her. She must be a true animal lover. (4) We see the Queen's sitting room, bedroom and other rooms in their Scotland quarters (Balmoral), which wasn't that lavish a deal. (5) We see the Queen actually serving a picnic meal without help. (6) And finally, we see a very young Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) trying to deal with a fastidious not-so-old queen, who revels in all of the formalities of her position. I don't mind giving these parts of the movie away, because I know that you will want to see this movie and visualize it for yourself. It is well worth the experience. More than anything, this movie shows that Royals do have a human side, that they actually do things that ordinary people do and do it without being waited on constantly, and finally that beneath all of that formality there is just a family with problems like ordinary people have.Read full review
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