For more movie summaries, see Kam's Kapsules.
 THOSE TABLOIDS WILL PRINT ANYTHING IN ORDER TO SELL PAPERS: Queen Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren) is at a loss when it comes to responding to the outpouring of grief by her subjects upon the untimely death of Princess Diana. Protocol demands that her death and funeral be ignored by the royal family, however, the queen can't ignore the genuine sense of loss expressed by her subjects. |
When Lady Diana and her boyfriend Dodi Fayed died unexpectedly in a car crash in August of 1997, Queen Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren) found herself in a quandary. On the one hand, the ugly rumors of infidelity which had surfaced during Princess Diana's messy divorce from Prince Charles had reflected badly on the Royal Family. Therefore, the Queen was reluctant to acknowledge her disgraced former daughter-in-law's passing.
On the other hand, the Princess of Wales's work with babies stricken with AIDS, and other charities, had endeared her to many people. So, while the country grieved, Queen Elizabeth initially chose not to issue a public statement about the tragedy.
During the days leading up to the funeral, a large number of mourners had left flowers and condolence notes outside the gates of Kensington Palace, Lady Diana's residence. Nonetheless, Queen Elizabeth refused to make an appearance, citing centuries-old protocol which mandated that Lady Diana be denied any pomp or circumstance.
As a consequence of her clumsy handling of the situation, her majesty's popularity plummeted in the opinion polls, and some of her subjects started clamoring for the abolition of the monarchy. The Queen reacted callously to these reports, suggesting that it was merely the tabloids attempts to sell newspapers.
Fortunately, newly-elected Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) intervened, prevailing upon Queen Elizabeth to relent for the sake of her image. Britain's Prime Minister politely pressured her to avoid losing touch with the common man. This tug of war between politics and privilege is the prevailing theme of The Queen, a compassionate portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
The drama was directed by Oscar nominee Stephen Frears (The Grifters), who paints a convincing picture of what may have occurred behind closed doors. The Royal Family, at their Scottish retreat, were trying to decide what to do about the untimely demise of "The People's Princess."
Helen Mirren is likely to earn her third Academy Award nomination for her endearing portrayal of the title character. Mirren never hits a false note in a production which admirably resists the temptation to lampoon the figure of the monarch.
Co-star Michael Sheen is just as impressive as the impish Blair, serving up an impersonation virtually indistinguishable from the real Prime Minister. The principal cast is rounded out by James Cromwell as Prince Philip, Alex Jennings as Prince Charles, Helen McCrory as Cherie Blair, Sylvia Syms as the Queen Mother, and Roger Allam as Robin Janvrin — the Queen's private secretary.
A sympathetic portrayal of a well meaning matriarch managing her dysfunctional family while every move was being monitored by the media.
Excellent (3 and ½ stars). PG-13 for brief profanity. Running time: 97 minutes. Studio: Miramax Films.
For more movie summaries, see Kam's Kapsules.