The Queen (2006)
On New Year’s Eve I went to see The Queen (2006) with ‘the lovely’—it’s become a tradition for us to see a film on the last day of the year. I received a bit of ribbing for seeing this but it’s an excellent film. I’m also happy that I didn’t get suckered into seeing ‘that film with Beoncé’.
Helen Mirren is quite believable as Queen Elizabeth II and James Cromwell is a wonderful, crusty, Prince Philip. The entire cast is very good and I can’t think of a single performance that was lacking, except for maybe Wolfgang Pissors as a German reporter.
Kidding aside, this film will probably renew your interest in the monarchy if you’re a Canadian. We’re reminded of her at least once if we look at the loose change in our pockets but it’s easy to forget that she’s a human being sometimes.
The Queen examines the fallout from Elizabeth’s silence after the death of Lady Diana and how Tony Blair struggles to advise her. I found the film’s version of this historic period to be fascinating. The way in which archival news footage is meshed with the film is quite seamless.
The Queen is easily one of the best films of the year. I can’t speak for Americans but if you’re Canadian, and you have some knowledge of Queen Elizabeth, chances are that this film will strike an emotional chord with you. 
½
Films are rated from 1 to 4 stars.
Stumble It!Posted in Movie Reviews at 9:33 PM
Comments
The film is brilliant in every way, save one. In reality, the Queen’s reaction to Diana’s death surely covered a range of ambivalent feelings, and was not just a cold insistence on protocol, as suggested by the film.
Prince Charles tells his mother, “The Diana we knew was very different than the Diana idolized by the public”, but this truth is never developed in the film. I’ll mention it here.
While the “people’s princess” remains the icon of superficial popular culture, the Royals knew a very different, darker character behind the facades of glamour and pseudo-compassion.
Both Diana and her brother, Charles Spencer, suffered from Borderline Personality Disorder caused by their mother’s abandoning them as young children. A google search reveals that Diana is considered a case study in BPD by mental health professionals.
For Charles Spencer, BPD meant insatiable sexual promiscuity (his wife was divorcing him at the time of Diana’s death). For Diana, BPD meant intense insecurity and insatiable need for attention and affection which even the best husband could never fulfill.
Clinically, it’s clear that the Royal family did not cause her “problems”. Rather, Diana brought her multiple issues into the marriage, and the Royal family was hapless to deal with them.
Her illness, untreated, sowed the seeds of her fast and unstable lifestyle, and sadly, her tragic fate.
Posted by: redtown on January 2, 2007 9:58 AM
when is this movie coming out on DVD?
Posted by: Gayla on January 15, 2007 1:01 AM
Still now word on when the DVD will be released. It’s still playing in theatres which means it likely won’t be available on DVD until at least late Feb/March.
Posted by: Jay Kerr on January 15, 2007 3:36 PM
