****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
On August 31, 1997, a car crash in a Parisian tunnel paralyzed a nation with grief, put a government in crisis, and alienated a beloved royal family from its subjects. That crash took the life of Lady Diana Spencer, formerly the Princess of Wales, and the mother of the second-in-line heir to the British throne."The Queen," starring Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, and James Cromwell, is a beautifully acted, masterfully written, and historically accurate drama that chronicles the events that occurred in Britain in the aftermath of Princess Diana's death. Written by Peter Morgan and directed by Stephen Frears, it examines why the British royal family, led by Queen Elizabeth II, was both unable and unwilling to deal effectively with Diana's sudden death; and shows the rift that developed between the royal family, Britain's newly elected government, and the British public.In the early morning hours of August 31st, while staying with her family at her summer palace in Scotland, the Queen is awakened told that Diana has just been killed in a car crash in Paris. The Queen, her husband Prince Philip, and the Queen Mother all maintain a curious indifference to the news.In London, newly elected Prime Minister Tony Blair becomes the public face of the tragedy. As he tries to coordinate long-distance funeral arrangements for Diana with the vacationing Queen, he is met with frustration. Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and the Queen Mother are all opposed to the idea; because Diana is no longer considered a "royal," they want a strictly private funeral.The monarch steadfastly refuses to interrupt the family's vacation for any reason. This puts the royal family increasingly at odds with the Prime Minister, and especially the British public. Blair, always the consummate politician, has read the public mood accurately; he advises the Queen that his latest internal polling indicates that one in four Britons currently favors abolishing the monarchy altogether...Will the Queen agree to a state funeral and make a public appearance? Watch this outstanding film to find out.There many, many positive things to say about this fine movie. The acting is simply marvelous throughout. Helen Mirren won a Best Actress Academy Award for her marvelous performance as the British monarch, and Michael Sheen performs to perfection as Prime Minister Tony Blair. James Cromwell matches Mirren's performance with his own, as the Duke of Edinburgh."The Queen's" screenplay is brilliant. Dialogue is always sharp, witty where appropriate, acerbic at times, and always fascinating. The film's pace never flags. Sets and costumes brilliantly reflect the times. "The Queen" is historically accurate, although some events have naturally been compressed or altered in the interests of time.From its opening scenes to its closing credits, "The Queen" is entertainment at its very best. Highly recommended.
