Helen Mirren IS The Queen

Rating: Null/10 (20 December 2006)

(watched in Toronto)
It is rather ironic that Queen Elizabeth II, who was immensely popular, loved, even worshiped when she was crowned as a young woman, was driven to the brink of disaster four and a half decades later by another young woman, who wasn't even alive. The deaths of Diana in August 1997 brought about a fascinating case study of crisis management, in the royal order, and provided material for a movie that will likely fetch Helen Mirren a Golden Globe or an Oscar, or, entirely in the realm of possibility, both.
The movie, elegantly shot by Stephen Frears (director of "Mrs Henderson presents", credential that he knows he way around things British) evolves around an engaging parrying between then newly elected (in landslide too) young Prime Minister Tony Blair and 70-year-old Queen Elizabeth II, surrounding the royal family's response (or rather the lack of which) to the death of "people's princess" Diana, who had already divorced Charles and was therefore not a member of the royal family. Diana's immense popularity, fuelled further by the manipulating media, brought about a minor crisis, to the extent of threatened proposals of abolishment of the monarchy on account of being insensitive to her tragic death. Disaster was finally averted when The Queen, recognizing the practical need, followed Blair's recommendations in honouring Diana in her death.
The Queen is portrayed in sympathetic light in this movie, which would be better understood by people who were around (even as kids) during her coronation. Coming to the throne in such overwhelming popularity and well loved during most of her reign, it was just totally beneath her to be part of the cheap, popularity games that seems to have taken over the way the world now operates. It is rather heartbreaking to hear her, still in cool dignity, intimate "I have never been hated by so many people in my life". And it takes a actress of utmost confidence and authority to bring out that regal quality and at the same time sensible humility. Helen Mirren is just the one, and probably the only one today.
By comparison, Michael Sheen as Tony Blair is dwarfed (probably the characters in real life too), but his is a good performance. So is everyone else in the supporting cast. Omnipresent James Cromwell is a wonderful Philip, particularly in revealing lines such as "Bloody fool..you're tea got cold" after The Queen interrupted her tea to take a call from Blair which turned into a tense, substantial verbal duel. Once beautifully attractive Sylvia Syms is excellent as the Queen Mother, "mummy" to The Queen.
But there need be no other reason to watch this movie  Helen Mirren IS The Queen