A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: The Queen

Date Viewed: 11/5/06

Details:

Helen Mirren

Michael Sheen

James Cromwell

Sylvia Syms

Alex Jennings

Helen McCrory

Roger Allam

Director: Stephen Frears

Score: +

The Review: One long week in late summer, 1997 -- spent in the company of HM the Queen of England.

This is a character study of the British royal family, focusing on the Queen (Mirren) and her response to the surprise, accidental death of (ex) Princess Diana. Context and contrast is supplied in the person of then-newly elected prime minister Tony Blair (Sheen) as he reacts initially on behalf of his generation, then works behind the scenes to engineer a rapprochement of sorts between the Queen and the not unreasonable expectations of her unruly subjects.

Being neither a monarchist nor a royalist, I did not expect to like the film. But I was pleasantly surprised by this modest and interesting effort. Helen Mirren is truly excellent in her title role, and her interpretation of the Queen is well done and sympathetic -- although impossible to confirm. Prince Philip, on the other hand, does not come off well at all -- Cromwell has become quite good at playing self-centered twits (a recent example is his morally-challenged US President in Clear and Present Danger), and in this case he goes over the top as a grandfather whose idea of support and good advice in times of crisis is to keep his grandsons engaged in a morning deer stalk, away from the press -- again, nearly impossible to confirm. Furthermore, the portrayal of the Queen Mum (Syms) was at odds with the general public sensibility. On the other hand, as the Queen's personal secretary, Allam was particularly good.

In the early-90's we actually saw the Queen in person, along with the entire royal family including Diana -- you cannot really say "met," considering the venue -- while attending the Braemar Scottish highland games, which are held near the summer residence at Balmoral Castle under royal patronage. It was almost more interesting to watch the crowds, as an exercise in sociology or anthropology, than the royals. Almost.

(5-Nov-06)

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