Review of The Queen (2006) by Matthew R — 16 Feb 2010
The film is strongest in the moments when they are either humanizing the queen or showing the modernization of the queen from the help of Tony Blair. It is at its weakest when showing Tony Blair connecting with the queen.
It seems like it happens without reason and never really does a good job setting itself. Michael Sheen is highly underrated in his portrayal of Tony Blair. I found it difficult sometimes because of my own connection with the emotions of the royal family.
The week of Princess Diana's death there were crowds in the street mourning together. But the royal family can't understand this, she was a nice person, but a pain to them. And also, these people never knew her, so why should they mourn someone they never even met? It seems rather ridiculous to me to see people crying for someone that they wouldn't have even known if it wasn't for the media.
But to compare it to something today (of course not on the same level) is the death of famous actors such as Heath Ledger. People were depressed and cried because he died, but why? My friend Greg died at a younger age, yet no one that didn't know him really cared.
But this reaction that the royal family gives is never frowned upon within the film, it is simply seen as their own feelings on the subject. Of course, this isn't a main point of the film, just something I felt close to.
The film itself portrays the queen in a light where we rarely see her. She is first seen getting a portrait done of herself, then later she's driving a car. She has this royal feel to her, but there are moments where she is down to earth.
No other queen would have been able to handle the modernization with such grace.
This review of The Queen (2006) was written by Matthew R on 16 Feb 2010.
The Queen has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
