If it hadn’t been for The Departed, this would be your Best Picture winner. I say that now, still not having seen either Letters From Iwo Jima or Babel, but I get the sense that this film has all the makings of an Oscar winner. It’s sharp, balancing the dry witty humor I adore the British for with the heavy subject matter of Princess Diana’s death.The Queen is a recreation and depiction of the days immediately before and following Diana’s death from the perspective of the Royal Family. The events and dialog presented are based off of the accounts given to the filmmakers by anonymous sources. There is also extensive use of real footage from news reports covering the accident, the outpouring of grief from the people of England, and even the funeral service itself.
All this in a trim 103 minute running time.
The amount of detail and careful documentation of everything is quite unique. If the filmmakers had chosen to take too many creative liberties, one can just imagine what Queen Elizabeth’s lawyers would have had to say! I think the fact that the real Queen approved of the film says it all. While I’m sure there are some parts of the film that aren’t true to life, The Queen manages to be one of the few docudrama/biopics that really excels at achieving its goal. Instead of playing it safe, the film takes chances and presents plenty of uncomfortable scenarios, and is rewarded for doing just that.
You really get a sense for how much the Queen and her husband disliked Diana and the cult of personality following she had. Sure, the woman did many good things for the world, but her visibility flies against time-honored traditions among the Royals. This is the other excellent aspect the film manages to include- showing the Queen’s struggle with what she knows from tradition and how it collides against the rapidly changing times she is living and ruling in.
Though parts of the film may be complete fiction, I felt like I gained a better understanding of Queen Elizabeth from watching it. I understand her distaste with Diana better, though I don’t completely agree with it. But that’s the point. The Queen is equal parts compassionate and condescending toward Elizabeth. In other words, it’s very real, which always helps when you’re making a docudrama or a biopic.
The acting is all very well done. Helen Mirren does a fine job in her portrayal of Elizabeth, and Michael Sheen is spot-on as newly elected Prime Minister Tony Blair. James Cromwell creates a memorable character out of Prince Phillip, the Queen’s husband- the inclusion of Phillip, who goes more or less unnoticed by the press, was a refreshing jolt of cynicism and sarcasm complimenting the film’s overall dry tone. My only complaint is that the filmmakers didn’t get someone ugly enough for Prince Charles. Actor Alex Jennings seriously looks nothing like him- he’s too handsome.
The Queen is a classy film, which some may find boring, but if you are really interested in Princess Diana and/or the Royal Family I’d definitely recommend it. Concise and complete, I recommend The Queen and would have voted for it over The Departed, were I a member of the Academy.
RATING: 3.75 out of 5
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