THE QUEEN – Helen Mirren – d: Stephen Frears
A more sober tone would probably have made Stephen Frears‘ filmization of Peter Morgan’s script less appealing to a mass audience, but it would also have made The Queen — and those portrayed in it — more true to life. Michael Sheen’s Tony Blair, in particular, comes across as a much more likable (and better-looking) figure than the deceitful and ruthlessly ambitious British prime minister.
Sheen’s Blair even gets to self-righteously lecture his assistants — and us, the audience — on the importance of Queen Elizabeth II to the United Kingdom. We were not amused. That said, some excellent acting — Helen Mirren, in particular — Frears’ careful direction, and Morgan’s generally intelligent screenplay (despite the Tony Blair lapses) make for an entertaining and to a certain extent illuminating The Queen.
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What would have been better is an account of what happened the night that Diana died. I am one of many who only really was interesting in the idle and ceremonial Windsor family because of the impossible princess. I can’t imagine sitting through a film about one of the most unremarkable monarchs to ever live. At least Lady Jane Grey knew the right time to die. But I think that it will be a long time before anyone sees a film about that night because no one really has the balls to do it.
The night of Diana’s death was shown briefly in “The Queen.” Diana appears basically via newsclips.
Although I can see your point — it’s a difficult subject matter — my only concern about such a dramatization is that it might fail to be as shocking as the real-life event. And might thus end up looking like a subpar reenactment.
Tony Blair was never as good looking as Michael Sheen, either.
Tony Blair is a freak.
Michael Sheen was much too kind to him in the film.