Thursday, April 7, 2011

The Queen


The Queen-2006, starring Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, and James Cromwell
Leonard says-  Intriguing look inside the private life of England's royal family as Queen Elizabeth II contends with the death of Princess Diana, while her new, "modernist" Prime Minister, Tony Blair (Sheen), tries to persuade her that her stoic silence is out of step with the public's grief.  Perceptive, persuasive, witty, and poignant, Peter Morgan's script humanizes the public figure it portrays, while actual TV news footage sets the stage for the events being dramatized.  Mirren's flawless, Oscar-winning performance sets a standard met by all of her costars.  Evocative and imaginative score by Alexandre Desplat.  A follow-up to Frears' and Morgan's British TV movie The Deal, in which Sheen first played Blair.  3 and a half stars.

I say-  Very enjoyable performance, but I would have preferred it more had it been a history of Queen Elizabeth rather than just showing one week in her life.  Acting is great all around, however, I feel no need to watch it again.  The movie is only 107 minutes, but it feels much longer,  2 and a half stars.

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