Details
Movie Description
Helen Mirren delivers a royally stirring performance as Queen Elizabeth II in Stephen Frears's fictional romp, THE QUEEN. The year is 1997, and Great Britain has a newly elected prime minister, the youthful, optimistic Tony Blair (Michael Sheen). In Buckingham Palace, the Queen doesn't appear to be fazed by Blair's arrival. Then again, she doesn't appear to be fazed by anything. But when Diana--her son's ex-wife and the mother of her grandchildren--is killed in a tragic car accident, her authority is tested as never before. While the Queen Mother (Sylvia Syms) and Prince Philip (James Cromwell) agree with her decision to remain at their holiday estate in Balmoral and not publicly acknowledge the tragedy, Tony Blair feels differently. Unfortunately, so do the English people. Making matters worse is the out-of-control media, which has begun to castigate the queen for her silence. In order to retain her grip on the country that she has served for so many years, she must swallow her pride and let the world know that she does, in fact, care.
With THE QUEEN, the consistently superior Frears (DIRTY PRETTY THINGS, DANGEROUS LIAISONS) strikes once again. Peter Morgan's devilishly clever script provides the foundation, but the expert performances are what make the film such an exhilarating ride. What begins as a humorous critique of the stuffy royal family becomes an unexpectedly sympathetic portrait of a woman who carries the weight of a nation on her shoulders.
This film was chosen to be the opening night selection of the 44th New York Film Festival organized by the Film Society of Lincoln Center.
Industry Reviews
3 stars out of 5 -- "Stephen Frears' taut run-through of the week following the demise of The People's Princess sees the bickering royals isolated at Balmoral."
Total Film - Andy Lowe (10/01/2006)
3.5 stars out of 4 -- "THE QUEEN is one of the best and liveliest movies of the year -- funny and touching in ways you can't predict."
Rolling Stone - Peter Travers (10/05/2006)
"How heavy that crown and how very lightly Helen Mirren wears it as queen. With Mr. Frear's gentle guidance, she delivers a performance remarkable in its art and lack of sentimentalism."
New York Times - Manohla Dargis (09/29/2006)
"[An] engrossing and unexpectedly penetrating drama....THE QUEEN pays serious attention to how an ancient monarchy operates in a modern country..."
Entertainment Weekly - Lisa Schwarzbaum (10/06/2006)
Included in Premiere's "10 Best Movies Of The Year" -- "[The film] has as many twists and turns as a great political thriller, and a sly wisdom as well."
Premiere - Glenn Kenny (01/01/2007)
Ranked #7 in Rolling Stone's "The 10 Best Movies Of 2006" -- "[Frears] is devilishly good at springing surprises, political, personal and profound."
Rolling Stone - Peter Travers (12/28/2006)
Included in Entertainment Weekly's "Top 10 Films Of The Year" -- "Mirren deserves each and every honor bestowed upon her..."
Entertainment Weekly - Lisa Schwarzbaum (12/29/2006)
Ranked #5 in Film Comment's "20 Best Films Of 2006."
Film Comment - Film Comment Staff (01/01/2006)
4 stars out of 5 -- "Rightly acclaimed for Helen Mirren's extraordinarily persuasive lead....This is Stephen Frears' best film yet."
Uncut - Geoff Andrew (03/01/2007)
5 stars out of 5 -- "In its blend of dramatization and news footage, it presents a cannily authentic view of events."
Ultimate DVD - David Richardson (03/01/2007)
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