The Queen

Pros: Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, Frears's direction, Morgan's script
Cons: Story has some bias toward the British media

Change came to the British monarchy in two ways in 1997. First, the British people elected a new prime minister. Second, Lady Diana Spencer, the former wife of Prince Charles and a beloved person throughout the world, lost her life in an auto accident in ...

Pros: Insightful look at what transpires in the life of the Queen and the Royal Family
Cons: None

When this remarkable movie opens we see Queen Elizabeth posing for a portrait… as this short time passes so does the thought that this is really Helen Mirren and not truly “Her Highness,” The Queen we see in the painting and on screen. ...

Pros: Excellent story, a part of history.
Cons: nothing for me.

Helen Mirren's performance as Queen Elizabeth II, the current reigning monarch of Great Britain was, in my opinion, flawless. She was, in her role, neither understated, nor over the top. She was perfect. The Queen is a film that gives the ...

Pros: An impeccable performance by Helen Mirren who IS Queen Elizabeth II in this film.
Cons: uneven volume

There are times when we can only surmise one's thoughts by their action. This film, written by Peter Morgan, delves into the mind of the Queen of England immediately after the death of the "People's Princess" Diana. This name was given by Tony Blair in ...

Pros: Mirren. Script. Direction.
Cons: Editing is eh? Lacks greatness.

There is a fine line dividing greatness and perfection. One could say that a devil is perfectly devilish. But does that make the devil great? This isn't to say that The Queen, the person or the film, is a devil. But while its flaws (which do ...

Pros: strong dialogue, performances and direction
Cons: opaque titular character, narrative protagonist

The Queen is a portrait of an iconic figure, imperiled by "rules of the game" that no longer hold the same currency. Queen Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren) finds herself embroiled in a scandal of her own making when she treats the death of "Princess" Diana ...

Pros: Everything: acting (Mirren is extraordinary), story, dramatic tension, topicality, music, script...
Cons: Nada.

The Queen (2006), the latest film from English director, Stephen Frears, is well worth the price of admission alone for Helen Mirren’s extraordinary performance as Queen Elizabeth II. The film, which focuses on the week following the death ...

Pros: Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, script, the Corgis, Queen Liz the Second.
Cons: Having to suffer through all those news clips about Diana all over again.

In director Stephen Frears’ excellent ‘The Queen’, we are made privy to imagined conversations and actions taking place behind closed doors amongst the Queen’s family and advisers whilst at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, and newly elected ...

Pros: Mirren and Sheen. Another phenomenal outing by Director Stephen Frears.
Cons: Not action-driven, bogs a little.

“The Queen” is, far and away, Stephen Frears’ best film to date. That’s saying a lot since his “Dangerous Liaisons” is one of my favorite films of all time. While “Dangerous Liaisons” is about power ...

Pros: Frear's Direction, Morgan's Script, Locations, Look, Music, & Cast, notably Mirren & Sheen.
Cons: Pacing Drags a Bit.

August 31, 1997 was the day the former Princess of Wales, Diana Spencer was killed in a horrifying car accident as she, boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayed, and driver Henri Paul were caught in a chase involving paparazzi in a tunnel in Paris. The incident sent ...

Pros: Tremendous performances from Helen Mirren and Michael Sheen; splendid screenplay and direction
Cons: May feel like Masterpiece Theater exercise to some

On the surface Stephen Frears' new film THE QUEEN might have been retitled "Much Ado About Nothing." This docudrama account of the week following Lady Diana's sudden death in August of 1997, and the escalating culture clash which ensues between a British ...

Pros: Helen Mirren brings home a surprising Oscar win...
Cons: English-themed films + Yank audiences = bad mix...

Fortunately for most of us, the sacredness of our coffee breaks are restricted to the workplace. In days of yore, however, the English upper class observed tea time as religiously as Muslims break wind facing away from Mecca at prescribed times during ...

Pros: An engrossing character study.
Cons: This is not an action film other than a car chase.

This review is an update and expansion of the express review and contains major information about the plot. Now that Helen Mirren has won the Golden Globe Award for best actress in a drama film and has been nominated by British Academy the film will ...

Pros: Helen Mirren
Cons: Will only be interesting to those interested in the British Monarchy

Over last weekend, I had the privilege to watch all 5 of the best picture Oscar nominated films and the The Queen was among them. I expected not to be interested in The Queen. I thought it would be the 2-hour block separating me from ...

Pros: Solid performances, taut pacing, great script and story
Cons: The premise sounds off-putting -- but don't let that fool you

The Queen is a fascinating look at class distinctions in Britain -- in this instance, as they were played out following the death of Lady Diana Spencer. Diana's death came shortly after the election of Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) as Britain's ...