Exquisite, subtle, compassionate, extraordinary

Rating: 10/10 (17 October 2006)

Helen Mirren's performance will likely win her an Oscar and she is most deserving of one for this role. You literally forget you're watching Mirren in this film - so subtle and so effective is her portrait of the living monarch. She manages to humanize the public figure, but still maintains her considerable dignity and mystique at the same time.
Kudos to Stephen Frears for making so many intelligent choices in his direction: while the real Royal family might not appreciate the attention that this film presents, I would highly doubt they would take great offense to any of their portrayals in this film. It is honest and classy, without being exploitative.
I especially appreciated Frears' decision to almost show nothing of the boys, William and Harry. We only see Charles comforting them the night of Diana's death, and catch glimpses of them once or twice more, but absolutely no dialogue. In a film that delves into the inner minds of the main players at such a tragic time, it was a classy choice not to turn the boys into film characters for this plot. It wasn't necessary.
Instead, we focus on the real heart of this film - the tension between conservative tradition and modern sensibilities. The contrast between the Queen and PM Tony Blair is a perfect metaphor for this conflict.
But it isn't all cut and dry, of course. The Queen is also portrayed here as stubborn and perhaps a little naive about the growing public mood sweeping the world following Diana's tragic death. Little of the Queen's well-documented and well-founded disdain for Diana is emphasized here. For those with a strong sense of history, we understand already what happened between Charles and Diana and how things went so poorly.
The best scene in the film - when the Queen's jeep gets stuck in the river on her Balmoral estate and she spots a beautiful stag nearby. Later she learns the stag has been shot dead by hunters and she goes to see the body at a neighbouring estate to pay her respects in a way. What a beautiful metaphor! I have little doubt that this film will be seen as one of the best of the year. In addition to Mirren's Oscar nomination and likely win, I see 'The Queen' having an excellent chance at a Best Picture nod and many other nominations, including screenplay. Well done to EVERYONE involved.