The Queen

The Queen: An extraordinary look inside the royal family during a time of turmoil. The story centers around the death of Princess Diana which happened just a few days after Tony Blair was elected as the new Prime Minister. Helen Mirren plays Queen Elizabeth II and does a tremendous job. Her acting performance is why this film works so well, we truly get to see a glimpse of how the royal family must have felt during these events. Michael Sheen also turns in an excellent performance as Tony Blair, who helps the royal family see how they were truly being viewed by the public. Actual footage of Princess Diana and other events that took place around that time are mixed in reminding us how real this terrible event was. The movie’s timeline is basically the week between Princess Diana’s death and her royal funeral seen by millions around the world. Although the script is not based on actual events, the idea of what transpired that week between the Queen and the Prime Minister is compelling. I personally love when films go back in time and visit an event, tragic or joyful, and show us their take on what might have happened behind closed doors. The movie also gives multilayered messages about public leaders' responsibilities and how they are viewed in the public’s eye. This is one of the best films I have seen this year and I believe it will be mentioned a lot come award season. Bravo!
* * * * or A-

If this movie had parents they would be: JFK & Elizabeth

With a running time of 97 minutes
This film is rated PG-13