CibbuanoThe Queen
March 6th 2007 00:33
It's a secretive family and, even though I was instructed to sing God Save The Queen, two things that I can't stand up for, I couldn't imagine her as a real person. After all, she's just the head on the penny and the quarter. And all the other coins. And a lot of the bills.
Realistically, the Queen is still the Head of State of both Australia and Canada. Which means she could, theoretically, pit both countries against each other for her sheer amusement. There'd be blood in the streets in the town of Toronto before that'd happen, let me tell you.
The Queen concerns itself with the events surrounding Princess Diana's death, the Royal Family's reluctance to make a statement, and Prime Minister Tony Blair's intervention in the event.
Stephen Frears directed The Queen and, after watching the film, seems like the right choice. He directed Michael Sheen as Tony Blair in The Deal in 2003 and has the right pacing for creating complicated characters in turmoil.
Previously, I wrote about Helen Mirren's Academy Award for her portrayal of the monarch, and I commented on how stunning she looked, as a 61-year-old woman. In contrast, she looks so remarkably like Elizabeth that it's hard to believe that I guiltily ogled the same woman.
In context, it's unbelievable. This is a Queen that helped with the war effort in World War II, who didn't flee to Canada, a Queen and her family that dealt with the notion of the UK falling to Nazi bombers.
It's also a Queen that's seen anti-war movements, the Beatles, the Sexual Revolution and the bizarre popularity of David and Victoria Beckham.
The Queen shows us that the idea of a monarchy has no relevance in our net-connected, attention-deficit world. While the Royal Family holds onto their antiquated traditions and rituals, the rest of the world zips by, changing and evolving. At the same time, though, in one key scene, we see how the English people still hold the idea of the monarchy to their hearts. As Elizabeth grows older, the idea is all that stays strong, with her image on our money.
I say: A good movie to watch for Anglophiles, and those interested with a sneak peek at the Royal Family. I have no love for the monarchy, but I still found it fascinating to see their lives, and the formality of their everyday existence. And how that must corrupt and rankle a normal human being.
See it for: Proper English. We all speak like pirates and thieves, but this is 'The Queen's English' and it sounds like a fairybook being read outloud by the Queen of Hearts. Which it is, in a way.
*images taken from the IMDb page on The Queen
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Comment by Mark Schultz
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sort of.
Comment by Theresa
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Penny Smart
So enjoyed your thoughtful review. Appreciate the insight.
I'm in the States. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Ben Franklin, among others, are featured on our money....Difficult to imagine a King or Queen, although a number of our politicians aspire ....
Theresa
Comment by Cibbuano
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Theresa, thanks for the compliment! The fun thing about America money is that you can say 'it's all about the Benjamins', whereas we can't say 'it's all about the Queen Elizabeth the II', can we?
Comment by Theresa
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Funny!. Hopefully we talk about Benjamin's, they are worth more than Washington's....
As an older women myself, admiring her adroit combination of sexiness,playfulness, and dignity, Ms. Mirren sets a high standard for women who are getting older. Great, something else to worry about.....
Theresa
Comment by Cibbuano
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Did you see the Queen. Subtle, subtle movements, and near-perfect emulation made that movie through Mirren.
I plan to post about this later, but I've been impressed with actresses more as they age.
Comment by Theresa
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I regret, I haven't seen it yet. Definitely want to.
Agree with you about high standards, from Helen Mirren to (is it) Dame Judi to Meryl Streep...
They set the bar high.
I think it diminshes us, as an audience, when actors play only one note in a film. As if only one emotional note is demanded in response from the people watching.
In almost any Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole, or Olivier movie, it seems to me, more is demanded of you, in understanding their performances. Their characters offer the beautfiul and the ugly, the sweet and the snide, and demand that you look at all of it.
Has anyone ever sneered as well as Richard Burton?
Ah well.....
Theresa
Comment by JohnDoe
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Comment by Cibbuano
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The story isn't so compelling, but Frears is quite talented in pulling a story along, I find... it has that Dangerous Liasons sense, in a way...
Comment by JohnDoe
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Prick Up Your Ears, The Hit and High Fidelity are also qulaity....Dirty Pretty Things wasnt to bad either.
Dangerous Liason was good, but I much prefer the Milos Foreman(One Flew Over Cuckoos Nest, People vs Larry Flynt, Amadeus etc) version called Valmont (1989)
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Comment by Luke
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ps. my review from a few weeks ago - The Queen
Comment by JohnDoe
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I just dont care about what happened to Diana, The Queen or the aftermath...as I said i will be checking it out on DVD so I might be surprised.