The Queen

( 16 )

Overview

The British prime minister and the Royal Family find themselves quietly at odds in the wake of a national tragedy in this drama from director Stephen Frears. On August 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, died in an auto accident in Paris; despite the controversial breakup of her marriage to Prince Charles, she was still one of the most famous and best-loved women in the world, and the public outpouring of emotion over her passing was immediate and intense. However, given the messy circumstances of Diana's breakup...
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More About This Product

Overview

The British prime minister and the Royal Family find themselves quietly at odds in the wake of a national tragedy in this drama from director Stephen Frears. On August 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, died in an auto accident in Paris; despite the controversial breakup of her marriage to Prince Charles, she was still one of the most famous and best-loved women in the world, and the public outpouring of emotion over her passing was immediate and intense. However, given the messy circumstances of Diana's breakup with Charles, official spokespeople for the Royal Family were uncertain about how to publicly address her passing. It didn't take long for the media to pick up on the hesitation of Buckingham Palace to pay homage to Diana, and many saw this as a sign of the cool emotional distance so often attributed to the royals, which in this case was widely seen as an insult to Diana and the many people who loved her. Prime Minister Tony Blair played by Michael Sheen saw a potential public-relations disaster in the making, and took it upon himself to persuade Queen Elizabeth II played by Helen Mirren to make a statement in tribute to the fallen Diana -- an action that went against the taciturn queen's usual nature. The Queen was released the same year that Helen Mirren played Queen Elizabeth I in an acclaimed miniseries for British television; The Queen also gave Michael Sheen his second opportunity to play Tony Blair after portraying the prime minister in the television film The Deal.
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Perry Seibert
Shakespeare wrote, "Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown," a point Stephen Frears' The Queen makes with the assistance of a superlative script, and pitch-perfect acting. Peter Morgan's screenplay pulls off a fantastic trick by playing up to the audience's preconceived notions about Queen Elizabeth II Helen Mirren and Prime Minister Tony Blair Michael Sheen during the film's opening act. The audience is encouraged to laugh at her regal bearing, in large part because Blair finds her as humorous yet intimidating as they do. As the film progresses, however, a remarkable shift occurs. Slowly but surly, the queen becomes a character that earns sympathy from the audience. Because of Stephen Frears' observant, never intrusive camera, the audience begins to understand her even though her behavior and her attitude hardly change. Frears is one of the few directors of his era to have worked extensively on television productions, and his natural ease with close-ups of actors' faces and his patience with his characters reveal that he has learned what elements of television work best on the big screen. Mirren herself is flawless in the part. She exudes authority as if it was her birthright -- as good a definition of playing a monarch that has reigned for five decades as could be imagined. That authority and command compel not only the other characters but also the audience to pay attention to her every gesture. Michael Sheen offers her pitch-perfect support, allowing viewers to feel justified in having their preconceived notions of the queen melt away, even as they recognize how difficult a person she would be to work with. Marvelously economic in every respect, The Queen offers a simple but profound example of why modern politics and public relations suit people of a certain temperament much better than others.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 4/15/2011
  • UPC: 031398138204
  • Original Release: 2006
  • Source: Miramax Lionsgate
  • Region Code: 1
  • Presentation: Wide Screen
  • Language: English
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 4,981

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Helen Mirren Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Michael Sheen Tony Blair
James Cromwell Prince Philip
Helen McCrory Cherie Blair,
Alex Jennings Prince Charles
Roger Allam Sir Robin Janvrin,
Sylvia Syms Queen Mother
Mark Bazeley Alastair Campbell,
Earl Cameron Portrait artist,
Tim McMullan Stephen Lamport,
Technical Credits
Stephen Frears Director
Affonso Beato Cinematographer
Consolata Boyle Costumes/Costume Designer
Leo Davis Casting
Alexandre Desplat Score Composer
Andy Harries Producer
François Ivernel Executive Producer
Christine Langan Producer
Peter Lindsay Sound/Sound Designer
Alan Macdonald Production Designer
Cameron Mccracken Executive Producer
Peter Morgan Screenwriter
Daniel Phillips Makeup
Stuart Renfrew Asst. Director
Scott Rudin Executive Producer
Tracey Seaward Producer
Ben Smith Art Director
Lucia Zucchetti Editor
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Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Queen
1. The Picture of Dignity [5:11]
2. Prime Minister Tony [5:07]
3. Diana [6:18]
4. Upsetting News [8:22]
5. The People's Princess [7:03]
6. A Public Funeral [6:08]
7. Modern Men [4:30]
8. The Royal Standard [7:12]
9. A Quiet Revolution [8:23]
10. Captive Beauty [5:04]
11. A Serious Mistake [9:28]
12. A Day of Mourning [5:18]
13. Shared Grief [9:20]
14. The Funeral [3:20]
15. Two Months Later [6:11]
16. End Credits [6:14]
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Menu

Disc #1 -- Queen
   Play
   Scene Selection
   Bonus Features
      The Making of the Queen
      Audio Commentary
         View the Film With Commentary by Director Stephen Frears and Writer Peter Morgan: On
         View the Film With Commentary by Director Stephen Frears and Writer Peter Morgan: Off
         View the Film With Commentary by British Historian and Royal Expert Robert Lacey, Author of "Majesty": On
         View the Film With Commentary by Director Stephen Frears and Writer Peter Morgan: Off
   Set Up
      Audio Options
         English
         Spanish
      Subtitles
         English for the Hearing Impaired
         Spanish
         None
      Register Your DVD
   Sneak Peaks
      Play All
      Déjà Vu
      Roger Corman
      Kyle XY Declassified
      Miramax
      Soap Net
      Ratatouille
      Becoming Jane
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 16 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(9)

4 Star

(4)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(1)

1 Star

(1)

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Sort by: Showing all of 16 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    This is magnificent - even tho you know the story - it is so very well presented you will enjoy

    What a movie ---- Even if some of it isn't historical, the basic story is there and I'm quite sure much of the shown emotion could have happened. Having been to London, and seen the Queen's birthday parade - much of it seemed real. I'm one of the few who don't feel the Princess deserved the royal salute she recieved. I pray her sons will follow a better example of how to live their lives, than either their mother or father provided.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    The Queen

    I loved this---thought it very well done. Glad to see Tony Blair supporting the queen as a real human being and attempting to understand her as such... The special features are worth the time, especially.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Amazing Film

    I have always had an interest in the history of England and the queens and kings who ruled it, but I have never been able to find out any information of much consequence about the country's current ruler, Queen Elizabeth II. For me, "The Queen" offers a rare glimpse behind the palace walls and gives an interesting look at one of the most devestating weeks for the queen, the royal family, and the world with the death of Princess Diana. Finally, Queen Elizabeth is treated, not as a strange monarch from another world, but as a woman, wife, mother, and grandmother. This movie perfectly captures the royal family without making them look like charicatures of themselves, showing us their deeply human flaws and redeeming qualities. The entire cast is perfect in his or her role, and Helen Mirren definately deserved her Best Actress Oscar. Beautifully filmed, without making anyone in the story the villian or tragic character.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Frost/Nixon

    kinda shocked, as they stole the title of my forthcoming biography. . .

    and dame helen mirren was to play the starring role in my the television miniseries adaptation of it, as well!

    but really, it was a truly oscar worthy performance. i expected a little more plot, but as a character study, it was first rate.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    LONG LIVE THE QUEEN

    A finely nuanced film takes you beyond the tabloid accounts and screaming headlines of the days surrounding Princess Diana's death. Doesn't sugar coat less than exemplary behavior and lends some insight into the negotiations behind the pomp and circumstance. Be prepared for a film unlike most you've seen lately. Well done!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Pay no attention to other reviews, this is great

    Amazing acting by Helen Mirren & James Cromwell who are perfectly cast. All cast is brilliant except for actor who plays Prince Charles who is terribly miscast. You'll find out more than you want to know about the royal family.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A great movie?No,not really!

    Yes,Helen M.is a very good actress,but the movie is boring.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    DOWN WITH THE QUEEN!!

    If anything, Helen Mirren could be considered a "good actress" in this movie, but the lame real clips mixed with bad redone scenes are so cheezy bad it ruins, if not mocks Diana's death.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted June 9, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 28, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 24, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted June 8, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted November 22, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 3, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted March 17, 2009

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 7, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 16 Customer Reviews