Intelligent Movie about UK politics

Rating: 9/10 (16 December 2006)

This enjoyable film is a fictional account of the relationship between British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the royal family after the death of Princess Diana. It's August 1997, Diana is killed in a car crash in Paris. Diana was disliked by the family and is to be deprived of an elaborate state funeral. The family seem like a bunch of petty, out-of-touch nutters surrounded by obsequious flunkies. A hysterical press argues that the House of Windsor is cold and uncaring. They want a proper send-off for the beloved Diana. As the week progresses the public mood becomes increasingly angry. The Downing Street spin machine is activated and equilibrium is restored. The Queen realizes her position as sovereign is dependent on retaining public approval. Thanks to Blair's pressure Diana gets a public funeral and the Queen goes on television, makes an apology and all is forgiven.
The movie begins with the first meeting between the Queen (Helen Mirren) and Blair (Michael Sheen) after he becomes Prime Minister in May 1997. Blair goes down on one knee and asks her permission to become prime minister. The film depicts Buckingham Palace as operating in a parallel universe with elaborate and meaningless rituals which seem to serve no purpose other than to intimidate outsiders.
Tony Blair is in the early days of his administration and he can do no wrong. He is achieving the highest approval ratings of any prime minister and knows how to manipulate the public mood. Blair comes out of this film well. He seems genuine, honest and down-to-earth and to have real affection for the monarchy. The real Blair is an enigma and a creature of Shakespearean complexity. Unfortunately movies, unlike books and plays, have not developed a language to portray a character like Blair. Michael Portillo recently used Chaucer's phrase, the smiler with the knife under the cloak to describe him. The Blair of this movie is a guy you can trust.
The Queen believes she is appointed by God and is known to have cried in public only for the decommissioning of the royal yacht Britannia. Mirren is terrific, she makes the Queen seem good-natured and sympathetic. By the end, you end up liking and respecting the woman. She may be deluded but she seems like a nice person.
The writer obviously doesn't like the secondary characters. Cherie and Blair's press secretary (Alaistair Campbell) seem poisonous. Both want to get rid of the royals. The Duke of Edinburgh (James Cromwell) comes across as loudmouthed dim-wit forever giving bad advice. Charles seems creepy and weak.
The Queen is one of the best films of 2006, but I have doubts about is accuracy.