The Queen

Director Stephen Frears continues his brilliant and eclectic career by helming this charming and surprisingly lively account of Queen Elizabeth II’s behavior following the tragic death of Princess Diana. The queen was notoriously absent from public sight for several days, choosing instead to remain true to the regal principle of keeping personal matters private. England was already enthusiastic about pursuing a more modern rule and the queen’s perceivably uncompassionate demeanor at this time damaged their affections for the monarchy even further.

The film is not so much a blaring critique of the queen as it is an affectionate satire. It sympathizes with her passion but hysterically spoofs her stiff methods. This is most true in the performance of Helen Mirren who imbues Elizabeth II with as much subtle vulnerability as she does overt steeliness. She illustrates beautifully the passionate but disconnected persona of the queen.

Other then developing a hesitant fondness for the rigid royalty, the film does little extra in terms of shaping a strong narrative. At times it serves as a tribute to Diana and at others Frears toys with symbols of royalty to dramatic effect, but there’s just not much driving this movie forward. As funny as it is, the charm dries out by the film’s end at which point the extensive day to day details of the mourning process start to feel like slow moving filler meant only to delay the queen’s small but inevitable concession. It’s a wonderfully insightful portrait of a complex public figure, but the film just doesn’t have enough other material to make it a truly engaging viewing experience. Mirren is the real magic here and her Queen Elizabeth II is most certainly worth a bow.

Grade: B