Photo by: Miramax Films
Every little girl wants to be a queen. Or at least that’s before seeing what hard work the job actually is.
After seeing “The Queen,” it becomes evident that being a queen isn’t such a royal job after all.
The film, starring Helen Mirren (“Elizabeth”), Michael Sheen (“Kingdom of Heaven”) and James Cromwell (“The Longest Yard”), chronicles the week after Princess Diana was killed.
While the princess’s death was hard on many people, the majority of the burden was on the queen of England and Prime Minister Tony Blair.
These two battled on how to address the country after the tragedy.
In depicting this struggle, the film gives the audience a clear idea of the difference in opinions between the monarchy and the government during this time.
While Blair was keen on addressing the people regarding Diana’s death, the queen and her family preferred to retreat to the country, away from the grieving people.
The film showed both the citizens’ dismay with this decision, as well as what was going on in the monarchy at this time.
The actors do a great job of embodying their characters.
Mirren, a veteran of royal acting, shines as the strong and caustic Queen Elizabeth II, creating an extremely powerful character.
Sheen also does a superb job of creating a likable and convincing Blair.
It is refreshing to see a creatively constructed movie in an era where clichCB)d films have taken over the theaters.
Not only is the acting fantastic, but there are clips of the news and of Princess Diana interspersed throughout the movie, creating a mix between documentary and historical fiction.
It was interesting to watch the real clips of this historical event mesh with the actors’ interpretations.
The film makers deserve a lot of credit for this innovative way of conveying historical fiction, developing a new method of integrating historical fact with developed characters in a story setting.
Acclaim for the movie stems from the fact that the curtain is raised on the private lives of important people.
While the lives of royalty are often considered glamorous and secretive, the audience sees the queen living her daily life, engaging in such activities as business calls and caring for grandchildren.
This helps the audience gain a different perspective on the events in England during this time.
The movie also does a good job of conveying what a huge impact the death of the much-loved princess had on her nation, as well as the feelings of other prominent figures toward her.
If you are looking for an action packed thriller, keep looking.
However, if you are in the market for an intelligent, provocative film, be sure not to miss “The Queen.”
