"The Queen" - A Review
[Previously, I gave a quick summary of the film "The Queen". Here is a full version.]
My verdict on “The Queen”? It is brilliant. Not only was the story recounted remarkably well, but the actors gave their respective characters vibrance and sincerity. The scenery was also breathtaking. The film was awash in arial views that gave you chills. Of course, if you live in the UK you are privileged to be able to see these scenes in person. How I envy you!
The action begins at Balmoral Castle, the Scottish summer residence of the royal family. While Buckingham Palace is the official seat of the Queen, nothing really exceptional takes place there until the end, when Her Majesty (Helen Mirren) makes her live speech to the nation remembering Diana. It is at Balmoral where we enter to find the Queen and the rest of the clan waking to the news that Diana, Princess of Wales was in an accident.
Prince Philip (James Cromwell) wonders what Diana has done this time. Not a surprising reaction, given that the Princess was constantly in the news for her latest gown, lunch date, or gym scandal. Soon we discover that Diana has died, news that shocks Prince Charles (Alex Jennings) and brings a flood of tears to his eyes, constantly threatening to spill over. Should he wake the boys? What will William and Harry do? No one knows what to do amidst the confusion.
The rest of the story (and some say controversy) surrounding the Queen’s actions all take place at Balmoral up until Her Majesty’s return to London, the timeframe of exactly one week. Throughout this week, newly minted Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) tries to figure out how to handle such an unprecedented historical event.
Even though the PM was struggling to figure out how to deal with Diana’s death and the public reaction to it, he sympathized with Elizabeth, trying to help her publically and politically. Sheen’s Blair treated Her Majesty with respect but with a touch of familial awe, as if the Queen was - as his wife Cherie would put it - like his mother.
Cherie Blair (Helen McCrory) was highly sarcastic and not at all impressed by Her Majesty. She bordered on the rude when brought before the Queen for the first time. The streak of her republicanism was hard to miss. Cherie even chided Tony for his deference to the Queen and his efforts at assisting her public and private decisions. She referred to the loss of Tony’s mother, saying that if she were still alive, she would be the same age as the Queen. It was psychological.
Meanwhile, Alastair Campbell (Mark Bazeley) was criticizing the Queen and the Royal Family with a smirk. Campbell was Tony Blair’s Press Secretary and official spokesman, a typical PR man who was calculating and manipulative of the media. Bazeley’s interpretation gave us a sneering, unsentimental, powerful Campbell who seemed undisturbed by the chaos in the press.
Alex Jennings’ Prince Charles masterfully captured the Prince’s torment at losing such an iconic part of his life so violently. However, the style in which it was delivered made “Charles” look like he had just suffered a mild stroke. His lips frequently fell to the side in order to accurately project the Prince’s speaking voice. This is in no way a dismissal of Jenning’s fine acting, but I just happened to find this particular characteristic amusing.
Then there was the majestic Helen Mirren herself. Her Elizabeth was strong and resolute among family, staff, and the public. As a grandmother, she wanted to protect William and Harry (whose faces you never see on screen) from the intrusive media and decided to stay at Balmoral Castle. Her logic told her that since Diana was no longer a member of the Royal Family, she did not need a large public funeral. The Spencers had agreed, and both families wanted to keep things private so that the young princes were shielded as much as possible.
The acres of flowers left outside royal residences and British embassies throughout the world, along with the newspapers screaming “Where is Our Queen?” told another story. Her Majesty was genuinely confused by the public’s reation and was only trying to adhere to protocol, something she had been taught since she was a tiny girl. The outcry for a public memorial was overwhelming for her.
In the midst of a discussion while driving through the woods, Prince Charles argues with the Queen that Diana should have a public funeral so that people can pay their final respects. Frustrated by Her Majesty’s cool reaction, Charles decides to get out of the truck and walk back. Elizabeth goes on alone.
Her Majesty tries to cross a shallow part of the river (presumably the River Dee) when her Land Rover truck stalls. The Queen gets out her cellphone and calls one of her staff to come and assist her.
While waiting in the quiet, peaceful setting, the Queen is suddenly overcome by everything that has happened. The famously stern Queen Elizabeth II is replaced by an unadorned, Welly-wearing ‘Lilibet’, a woman who does not understand why people are viewing her actions as damaging to the institution to which she herself dedicated her entire life. Tears pricked my eyes when I saw Elizabeth break down in tears while sitting on the river. You feel such a rush of sadness for her, knowing full well that Her Majesty, in reality, must’ve had moments like this in solitude.
She sees a buck with enormous horns trot into view. It is a poignant scene, as if the animal is telling her to not be afraid; be strong and majestic as always. Hearing the guns shooting in the distance, Elizabeth tries to shoo the animal away before it is seen. Elizabeth turns, lifts her head high, and becomes ‘the Queen’ once more.
Later, the Queen goes to the slaughterhouse to see what the day’s shooting brought. Much to the audience’s horror, there hangs the buck that had been by the river. Elizabeth looks terribly sad, but she turns to her head ghillie to thank him and walks out.
Helen makes you proud of the Queen, and pulls at your heart with emotions that are never as far away as some people think; the Queen’s eyes always reflect something deeply personal if you watch her closely. Helen brings out this trait in the Queen supremely well. It says, “Her Majesty is human, she’s vulnerable, but always has steely resolve”. This is what I admire so much about Elizabeth. Helen Mirren’s Queen was all of this and more.
I Rate It: 4.5 Stars (out of 5)
[Note, the Head Ghillie that Her Majesty encounters at the slaughterhouse is a familiar face. It may take you a moment or two - and some rewinding - but you'll see that the ghillie is none other than Pat Laffan. Those of you who are fans of the Irish comedy "Father Ted" will know him as "Pat Mustard", the perverse milkman that threatens to blow up Father Dougal and the milk truck.]
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