The movie feels far more cheeky than coruscating, however. It couldn't possibly offend Diana's fans and is reasonably gentle with Elizabeth. Blair's entrancement with the Queen, for instance, takes the form of defending her to his own staff who have been helping him convince her to address the public. The greatest scorn is reserved for Prince Charles, depicted as a selfish coward whose principal reaction to his ex-wife's death is fear of assassination. This is just crude, in the nature of an editorial cartoon.
In terms of romance, there is an allegorical development of her feelings when a contemplative Elizabeth sees a magnificent 14-point stag in Scotland. She tries to start it so that her consort and grandsons won't bag it, but eventually sees it headless, hanging in a neighboring gamehouse. (The old England is gone.) Though allegory, with its demonstrative yet seductive unreality, can be a great genre, its use here is not intricate or magical enough for it to sustain interest on its own.
At the end, after conceding to Blair's pressure to stage a response to Diana's death, Elizabeth strolls among the mourning crowds outside Buckingham Palace and asks a little girl if she may place a bouquet for her among the heaps laid for the late Princess. Elizabeth is confused when she says no, but when the girl explains that the flowers are for her, the Queen, Elizabeth is as thankful as a gentle giant in a fairy tale once he is "understood."
That's about the limit of the movie's tonal and emotional complexity. In sum, The Queen is a collection of small-scale sketches in an assortment of styles — postage-stamp likenesses, caricatures, icons — but even spread out side by side they aren't expansive enough to fill the frame.
Article comments
1 - Karen
I saw this film last night ---I thought that the acting was very poor --- with the exception of Helen Mirium who did manage to play the part of the Queen quite well...I thought that the person playing Charles was terrible as was the person who played the Duke of Edinburgh --- as well as the Queen Mum ---- the person who played Tony Blair a better job...I DID NOT like the part with the Stag being killed -- I felt that this part was in really bad taste....I would not recommend any one seeing this film at all --- total was of momey
2 - Alan Dale
Thanks for the comment, Karen. I'm really curious why you consider the death of the stag to be in "really bad taste."
3 - Michael
I enjoyed your thoughtful review but find that I disagree. I found this film to be excellent. I do however, understand how it may loose some people. This film is subtle and nuanced. I found many levels of communication and great attention to detail. Portrayal of Royalty under duress is a popular though hackneyed story telling device. Jaded film pundits busy comparing this story with other films could miss it's unique delicacy. In a land with royalty still involved in the running of the government much is conveyed by ritual. Encoded upon the carrier wave of etiquette, vital communication is often by innuendo. This film ushered the viewer into that world and even gave us the rules of deportment. The dialog between Tony Blair and the queen was the crux of the film for me. Brilliantly underplayed by both actors. Helen Mirren's performance as Queen Elizabeth II is nothing less than a masterpiece. Perhaps that is why she won the Oscar. This film won 53 awards and had another 44 nominations.