Susan Granger’s review of “The Queen” (Miramax Films)
Fascination with the death of Princess Diana continues in this docudrama, peeking behind the aloof facade of the House of Windsor when the British monarchy was in crisis in August, 1997, following the fatal car crash in Paris.
Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) has just been elected Prime Minister and his wife Cherie (Helen McCrory) is a well-known anti-royalist. Their first visit to Buckingham Palace is filled with quaint formality and archaic ritual.
Yet when the news of Diana’s tragic death is broadcast, Tony Blair voices the only “official” reaction. The Royals are sequestered at Balmoral in Scotland. Watching the news coverage, Queen (Helen Mirren) is troubled, concerned about her grandsons, but Prince Philip (James Cromwell) and the Queen Mother (Sylvia Syms) are oblivious.
Relying on precedent and miscalculating public sentiment, Queen decrees that since Diana is no longer HRH (Her Royal Highness), the Spencers should plan a small, discreet funeral. Only Prince Charles (Alex Jennings) perceives the icy insensitivity – “The two Dianas, the public’s and ours, bear no relation to each other.” – And responds by slyly, discreetly reaching out to Tony Blair as displays of affection for “the People’s Princess” overwhelm Buckingham Palace.
Examining tradition through the spectrum of political ambition and media savvy, Peter Morton’s screenplay is so well-researched and Stephen Frears’ visual direction is so devoid of sentimentalism that amusing gossip and speculation blend seamlessly with serious historical perspective. And it rings true, except, perhaps, when Philip crawls into bed, muttering, “Move over, Cabbage.”
In an Oscar-worthy performance, Helen Mirren skillfully embodies steely, stoic Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the cast cleverly capture the crucial mannerisms of their real-life counterparts. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “The Queen” is a spellbinding 9, majestic and magnificent.