"The Queen" (2006) - Movie Review

“The Queen” directed by Stephen Frears with Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth – II and Michael Sheen as Tony Blair portrays the series of incidents after Princess Diana died in an accident. The cold strained conversations between the Queen and Tony Blair in person and over the phone and the happenings that surrounds them are given in a straightforward and lucid nature. The emotional turmoil of the people due to the reaction less Royal family on the death of their ex-daughter-in-law was given as such with original footages. The behind the stage incidents was reconstructed by the events disclosed by the close people who witnessed those, inside her majesty’s palace, which form the tug of war between Queen and the Prime Minister of UK.

The establishment of the fact, on how deep the conservativeness and the thoughts of past generation run through them is rightly inculcated into the members of the audience through the initial scenes of the movie. After seeing nearly dozen different personalities in the chair of Prime Minister, the generation wideness with the young and charismatic Tony Blair surprises the Queen. Yet, she maintains the stature of amazing authority and the flair of the Royal family over the trend of changing world. While she is trying to take her time adjusting to the fact that there is a change ahead, the Queen is struck by the tragic accident of Diana which puts her into a situation she never anticipated and have not been before. The inner battle within her poses as remorseless person to the people of England. The impulsive nature of human being to show their anger is sharp and wounding and when it comes from the whole country it is brutal. The world inside the palace is the life a common person unable and sometimes denies seeing past the glittering glasses of walls, which is so fragile and complicated.

The director makes the viewer see what the people of England saw in the initial phases of the story and just when enough emotional anger is been created in them, he puts them right into the royal shoes of the Queen. Slowly and steadily, the viewer is made to realize the toughness, courage, empathy and the sacrifice one has to make to get into the place where she is. The actions and the consequences are viewed in couple of instances through Blair’s wife and his assistants. It is not about the passiveness of the Queen that needs to be put into scrutiny but it is the traditional and upbringings which becomes an impasse for her which needs dissection and cure. The director picks up and hands down the series of questions to the viewer - What he/she would have done with an upbringing like the Queen? Will the belief he/she has been following for her whole life is void by the changes in the world? Is it the tradition that is stopping or is it the ego or is it the vengeance of all those damages caused by Diana’s unintended actions? The answers for all those are fed properly and in a neat fashion. The director’s answer is that to develop the ability to listen to the right things even the truth nullifies the life long beliefs of a person.

My reference of Queen as not a “character” shows us how much Helen Mirren brought out the Queen on to the screen. Helen Mirren delivers one of the most powerful and terrific performances in the film industry in recent times. Michael Sheen as Tony Blair compliments Helen Mirren with all deliverance of eloquence of the Prime Minister of England. Roger Allam as Queen’s right hand Robin Janvrin, James Cromwell as Prince Phillip and Mark Bazeley as Blair’s spokesman Alaistair Campbell give the right reality and momentums the movie requires.

The background score is very subtle and interestingly brings out the comedic nature in the most unexpected instances. A movie’s definitive score is not about the music alone but the use and negation of it as demanded by the scene. This has been done with perfection and definitely need to be appreciated. Screenplay and editing are very definitive and explanatory. The perfect applications of the strong dialogues at the tense moments are tremendous and daring.

“The Queen” discusses the open facts of the reaction of the Royal family and also accepts the fact of change required by the current “modernized” world. The complications and emotional battles of Queen within herself brings out the unimaginable pain and distress one needs to undergo to accept the mistakes and act on the right things. Viewers can apply them to their very own parents and see how it illuminates the ego shadowed society of the old times and the current times as well. The upbringings differ in the world where the current generation cannot comprehend well enough, which makes it tough to deal with what they have in front. Change is inevitable and the way it should be brought is the decision made by both the generations. The openness to discuss it whiles the humility to accept those are the underlying facts of this movie.

The fascinating question the current generation finally needs to ask themselves is, when their turn comes to question their life long beliefs, will they be ready to accept those beyond hesitations, if it is wrong? Will they be willing to discuss it with the then current generation? Will you?