An insightful look inside the mind of the Monarchy

Rating: 10/10 (29 September 2006)

31st August, 1997. This date marked one of the most memorable events in the history of the entire Royal Family. The death of Princess Diana. It in turn lead to one of the most turbulent weeks the world had ever seen. The Queen, one of the most daring films in recent memory, exposes both sides to this situation, providing a fresh perspective on Diana's untimely death, from the Royals and the public's point of view.
The Queen begins before Diana's death, when Tony Blair (a spookily accurate performance from Michael Sheen) has just been made Prime Minister. His first meeting with HRH Queen Elizabeth II (brought spectacularly to life by Helen Mirren) is actually quite amusing. He is so nervous when he first meets her, he even goes so far as to kneel in her presence. Her Majesty casually dismisses this, even when she meets Cherie Blair (Helen McCrory) who hilariously curtsies before her.
Tony Blair had many grand ideas for the future of Britain. But three months later, after having just gotten used to the idea of being called PM, he finds himself in a very awkward position, caught between his loyalties to the Royal Family, and his duties to the public, after Diana's shocking death, along with her lover Dodi Fayed.
At that point in time, Diana was officially no longer a member of the Royal Family. In fact it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to say she had become a source of embarrassment to the family. But when she died, it stirred up an enormous public outcry. The Queen tastefully recreates the events leading up to her death, complete with news reports, interviews and so on.
People would leave bouquets outside Buckingham Palace. It's almost astonishing seeing the reactions it elicited from people the world over. But HRH took a different stance. She knew that Diana had caused no end of problems with some of her antics, and she regarded her death as something she partly brought on herself. Even though the people as a whole blamed the media, who hounded Diana constantly, and were even present when she died, chasing her into the tunnel in Paris that she never emerged from.
But Queen Elizabeth was not so blind that she didn't have some self-doubt. She even openly admits to Prince Philip (pompously played by James Cromwell) the family may have contributed to her death. The RF's insistence on a private ceremony infuriated the public. They began to interpret their reactions as unfeeling. Alistair Campbell didn't hesitate to sensationalise the events and was in partly responsible for whipping the public up into a frenzy. Blair, in the unenviable position of catering to the RF and the public, tries to calm the oncoming storm.
The Queen really is a quite sensational film. Thought-provoking, disturbing, funny, and even moving. At barely 100 minutes, it manages to address a diverse number of angles and events following the natural progression of the aftermath of Diana's death.
Stephen Frears direction is exceptional, tightly constraining the minutiae of the effect Diana had on the world. It's not a one sided affair either. We see things from different facets of society. Blair is afraid the RF is turning a blind eye to what's going on, while HRH maintains her dignity, but tries to spare her grandsons the pain, while privately confiding in The Queen Mother (amusingly played by Sylvia Syms) her own inner doubts.
Helen Mirren is outstanding as the Queen. She holds attention every time she is on the scene. You are never in any doubt who she is supposed to be playing, and she manages to introduce an appealing sense of dry irony at the events. She is also a moving character.
Her best scene is when she is driving on her estate by herself, she breaks down, and while she waits for help, she sees a stag Philip has been hunting. It gives her some time with her thoughts, away from the prying eyes of the public and flashbulbs of the press. She shows actual sadness over the death of her daughter. Despite the differences they had. Its a key moment because HRH senses the Monarchy's tenure is at stake. As well as her standing among the public. Its a scene that opens itself up to any number of interpretations.
One thing that is surprising is the humour that crops up in an otherwise serious motion picture. Some scenes are hilarious, like Blair's clumsy attempts to impress the Queen when they first meet, the strict protocols he must observe when in her presence, the unforgettable sight of seeing him in a football shirt. The delights just go on and on.
It's a consistently engaging experience, giving us a fascinating insight into the Royal Family's feelings, humanising them, and showing us they are real people after all. You even sympathise with what Tony Blair must have had to go through to get the Queen to deliver that address to the nation in the end.
I've seen The Queen twice at the pictures already, and it's rare nowadays that I do that. If Helen Mirren doesn't win an Oscar for her performance, it will be criminal. But then I lost faith in the award ceremonies a long time ago, so we'll have to see what happens. With the help of an excellent ensemble cast, The Queen becomes one of the most interesting films to emerge from the UK about the Monarchy's relationship with politics and the public.
One of the best films of the year.