Review of The Queen (2006) by Kevin M. W — 03 Jun 2012

While it would be all too easy for detractors to lay accusations of high-horse stuffiness at Stephen Frears' "The Queen", the irrefutable truth is that it is an elegant picture that combines compelling human drama, historical context, and pertinent themes in a handsome, refined package.

Helen Mirren anchors the film as the old-fashioned monarch Queen Elizabeth II, carving a stone presence with nary a raised voice or exaggerated facial expression, representing the stalwart but gradually decaying edifice of a way of life that can't stand up to changing times.

Writer Peter Morgan makes this account of how Princess Diana's death rocked the world more than just a staunch docudrama, but a thoughtful study of the political chess match between tradition and modernization.

It doesn't always zip by, but its seldom disinteresting.