For her Majesty and the Queenly Performance

Rating: 7/10 (8 July 2007)

Having heard of the film's popularity among various people, I went to see it with many idealized expectations. I, first of all, highly respect Queen Elizabeth II who has been a symbol of modern royalty for me. I thought that the movie is about her since the title indicates it. Yet, what I saw was partly a documentary and partly an acted depiction of a few days in the queen's life in late summer of 1997. What happened those days is not necessary to explain: Diana called "Peoples Princess" died so tragically and unexpectedly; yet, many people and I were not aware that this time occurred so demanding, so requiring for the queen and the entire royal family.
Elizabeth cannot understand these days, whatever happens appears to be above any sort of modernizing proposed by the Prime Minister, above any sort of her belief in the British nation. The princess dies in a car crash and the whole country kneels down in the admiration of hers. But what about the royalty? What about the queen? "They didn't deserve you" as one condolence card for Diana says. In the view comes Tony Blair satirically called by his wife "Mr savior of the monarchy" who changes the queen's actions, who dares encourage her to publicly express sympathy for late Diana, to come back to London and to make the public statement as a queen and as a grandmother. Because otherwise...what would happen if the queen didn't listen? Indeed strange were the days when the QUEEN was to LISTEN...
This rather documentary content is even more noticeable thanks to archive news. Not only the focus is put on the newspaper headlines which also the queen reads, but on the real TV news. On the one hand, that clearly reflects the situation which Britain experienced then, the whole atmosphere of lament and grief; on the other hand, it may be quite disturbing for the viewer, particularly on the big screen. Mind you that the picture of archive news is very weak and contrasts seriously with the movie. Moreover, there is some wrong interpretation of important persons, including Queen Mother played by Sylvia Syms. However...
...after leaving the movie theater, I said to my friends that besides all possible flaws, I loved the film. And I think so till now. Yes I consider THE QUEEN really entertaining. It is 90% thanks to HELEN MIRREN:
She acts convincingly as a real professional expressing cold elegance, overwhelming splendor, typical calmness, unique intelligence that the Queen is famous for. It is, I think, right to say that Ms Mirren gives a QUEENLY PERFORMANCE throughout and considerably raises the value of the film. From the opening moment, when she sits in her formal clothes and talks ABOUT the new Prime Minister to the very final moment when she talks TO the Prime Minister after emotions have calmed down, Helen is "royal" in the role. This top notch performance of hers absolutely worth Oscar she won goes in pairs with many memorable moments.
I think that the most enchanting and at the same time most beautiful moment is the queen alone in the dreamlike landscape waiting to have her car repaired and...that lovely stag looking at her. The stag looks as if it wanted to say "Don't give up, you are the queen of this beautiful country, you are our queen." Unforgettable scene with stunning cinematography! Another moment that draws my attention is when the royal family visit the people mourning for Diana. How brilliant is Helen Mirren then and how lovely she expresses this restrain from emotions. The girl that gives the queen flowers appears to be a symbolic depiction of the entire nation that seemingly says to the queen: "England forgives you, loves you too but...in a different way"
All things considered, there were many portrayals of royalty from Greta Garbo who unforgettably portrayed Queen Christina through Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth I of England to Helen Mirren as Elizabeth II. This performance is surely one of those greatest ones. See THE QUEEN for the sake of her Majesty (if you are still ready to respect a monarch) and for the sake of Helen Mirren's portrayal. It's worth these 100 minutes. 7/10 for the movie since it is far from masterpiece but 10/10 for Helen Mirren who shows the real masterwork and modern classic!