A fine film. Quite possibly the best British film I have ever seen.

Rating: 10/10 (16 September 2006)

Set in the months around the death of Princess Diana, the film focuses on the deep emotions that occurred within the royal family, and relationship between her royal majesty the Queen (Dame Helen Mirren) and the British Prime Minster, Tony Blair (Michael Sheen).
Helen Mirren is forever a treasured gem in acting show-business and here, she is no acceptation. Sadly, her blonde and elegant looks are carefully hidden behind the mask she wears to portray The Queen, but her acting is clearly visible. She is now Elizabeth II, but she does however slide very carefully and modestly in the role, and portrays her brilliantly throughout. Michael Sheen (an enigma  to me) is also excellent at portraying the Prime Minister, and he also should deserve an award for his fine performance. James Cromwell  originally I thought it was a bit risky, getting an American to play the husband of the British Queen, but he also slides into the role of Prince Philip, with an excellent British accent. Helen McCrory also does a well-analyzed performance as Cherrie Blair. Finally, Sylvia Syms makes an interesting but well-acted performance as The Queen Mother, providing us with one or two, undisruptive, comical one-liners.
I just got back from seeing The Queen, with my mother, and I was not at the least disappointed. The entire cast was well chosen and all perform modestly and admirably. The directing is also rather exceptional: Stephen Frears was an excellent choice, but sadly underrated. I had never hard of him prior to watching this film, and would like to congratulate him on making such a superb film.
I was also impressed with the use of the genuine archive footage from when Diana died, used at certain parts of the film. As well as the speech taken from her Majesty The Queen that Helen Mirren delivers in her own, non-plagiarized way. My only criticism would be that because the majority of the film is reliant on dialogue, it is unsure how much of it is true and how much is made up. None the less it was a riveting film that gave me goose bumps several times! An excellent way to spend a Saturday morning.