The Queen (2006)

Director: Stephen Frears

Starring: Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell

After the death of Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth II struggles with her reaction to a sequence of events nobody could have predicted.

Winning numerous awards and hailed by critics, I was not as impressed with the film. It did give an interesting insight into the Monarchy, and the effect Diana’s death had on the world – Britain especially. The Monarchy (in my opinion) serves a tourist purpose only and has long since lost the reigning power as it used to be. This film proves it. The ‘etiquette’ towards the Queen should long since have been abolished. She is a mere person and not a god, and it is frustrating to see how they revel in luxury and opulence at the expense of the general public.

Helen Mirren’s portrayal of the Queen was mostly comical in the beginning of the film, removing every inch of drama and feeling she possibly tried to convey. Prince Charles was a very weak character, while Prince Philip was bombastic. The only strong character for me was Michael Sheen as Tony Blair. Even Helen McCrory as his wife, Cherie, was for most of the film annoying.

The film did nothing for my senses and the real life footage was more interesting than the film itself.