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Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell

This is the story of the death of Princess Diana of Wales and the relationship between British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the British Royal Family upon hearing of her death.

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74% liked it

154,148 ratings

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97% liked it

177 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 37 min.

Directed by: Stephen Frears

Release Date: October 6, 2006

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DVD Release Date: April 24, 2007

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Stats: 10,386 reviews

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Helen Mirren with Oscar The Queen The Queen The Queen (2006) HELEN MIRREN 79th Academy Awards Sheen as Tony Blair The Queen The Queen (2006) Helen Mirren in The Queen Scene from The Queen, 2006 Helen Mirren as Queen Scene from The Queen, 2006. Mirren as Elizabeth II Helen Mirren HELEN MIRREN 79th Annual Academy Awards Nominations, Best Actress Helen Mirren
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Flixster Reviews (10,386)

  • SirPant
    October 1, 2009
    SirPant
    Once you get your head round the fact that this is not a comedy, you realise it?s a brutally honest portrayal of the turn of events that week in 1997. The acting was top notch! I do wonder if the whole thing with the stag happened though, where did that come from? Hilarious!
  • JeT0425
    June 13, 2009
    JeT0425
    This is one of the most important films so far this year. It brings back the great sadness of the death of Princess Diana in such a powerful way. I remember the day the Princess of Wales died in that terrible car accident, I was young but it is a moment in time that will stick wi...( read more)th you for life.

    Such emotion came over England... and the world. She was a princess to the people and when she was gone, the people suffered greatly. This movie shows what happened during the days of England's mourning inside Buckingham Palace.

    HM Queen Elizabeth II is a very interesting character and I was shocked to see how she behaves behind the scenes. She is an elegant, tasteful and powerful woman and Helen Mirren not only physically took on this character, but emotionally as well. Mirren became The Queen and gave an amazing performance that cries out for an Oscar.

    This film is definitely a great one and has Oscar written all over it. It has generated a ton of buzz, mostly over Mirren's stunning performance, and I could even very well see this film being nominated for Best Picture. Such an emotional film (emotional in a good way) that shows the true side of the Royal Family and the near-defeat of the Monarchy.

    Go see this movie, it's now playing in theatres. You won't regret it.
  • danperry17
    March 20, 2009
    danperry17
    What is it with Michael Sheen? I had no idea who this man was two months ago, and now I've seen him play the foil to two of the stiffest upper lips of our time: Richard Nixon (Frank Langella, in Frost/Nixon) and here, Queen Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren). In both cases, he has been ...( read more)outstanding, and his spot-on Tony Blair rivals Mirren's Oscar-winning portrayal.

    The Queen certainly has its flaws, one of them being a dreadfully cast Prince Charles, but it is nevertheless an engrossing and well-imagined film that stands as a filmic equivalent to the historical novel: sure, not everything might have happened this way, but it certainly could have...

    The film presents a plausible history with some basis in fact, and its agenda seems to be to simultaneously question and affirm the place of the Royal Family in contemporary Britain.

    This film could have just as easily been called "Queen of Hearts" or "Diana and Charles", as it is to a large extent a love letter to Diana; to tell one of the defining stories of the 90s by focusing on the Queen, however, casts a story we all know in a very different light.

    By times The Queen verges on satire, and in other places it's a loyal period piece, but in the end I think that this film will stand the test of time - even if reviews remain mixed - because when watched actively and not passively, you can make as much or as little of it as you like.

    Love it or hate it, The Queen does capture the zeitgeist, depicting but not resolving the conflict in the hearts and minds of Brits and Commonwealth citizens (including Canadians like myself) about just what role the figurehead has to play in our times, and how s/he can successfully do so - and for this, I do recommend it.
  • MovieGeek13
    March 19, 2009
    MovieGeek13
    A strong film about courage and loyalty.
  • AgentLexi2132
    January 21, 2009
    AgentLexi2132
    ''THEIR grief? If you imagine I'm going to drop everything and come down to London before I attend to my grandchildren who've just lost their mother... then you're mistaken. I doubt there is anyone who knows the British people more than I do, Mr. Blair, nor who has greater fai...( read more)th in their wisdom and judgement. And it is my belief that they will any moment reject this... this "mood", which is being stirred up by the press, in favor of a period of restrained grief, and sober, private mourning. That's the way we do things in this country, quietly, with dignity. That's what the rest of the world has always admired us for.''

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

    Helen Mirren: The Queen

    Director Stephen Frear's The Queen faces the grueling prospect of displaying and showing one of the darkest days in recent years of a declining monarchy. A time when the death of a princess shocked the world and sent us into mourning, with an enigmatic Royal Family and Queen choosing to keep things private albeit hush hush.
    Frear's paints an intimate picture of a week in time, showing us glorious characters of consequence and stature. Giving them three dimensional layers and graces, flaws and strengths, conveying a sense of realism, life and symbolic importance for a monarch whom deserves her story told. For a monarch under-valued and misunderstood by her own people.

    ''Will someone please save these people from themselves!''

    The Queen features a fabulous cast of veteran actors whom wonderfully flesh out their respective roles. We have the whole line up of Royals, politicians and famous icons of British culture on display here.
    Obviously Helen Mirren's performance is outstanding, and deserving of the Best Actress Oscar she deservedly won for this. Every gesture, word, and unrelenting acting of resonance and royal stature is laid to bear by the woman, who embodies her majesty majestically.
    Another character portrayed very well is the ominous Tony Blair, played by a wonderful Martin Sheen whom is a rising star of late. His mannerisms, and voice accurately captures the man. As the Queen warns him off future disrest also, we believe her and we also believe Mirren's charismatic ability.
    We see a James Cromwell as Prince Philip, making his views heard with great amusement. He's actually on form here as a believable character whom isn't afraid to voice his views, he also makes alot of laughs happen without meaning too.
    Alex Jennings as Prince Charles tops it off, as the benevolent Prince, who is flushed with good intention and future thinking for the family. He adds a weirdness to yet an apparent family barbarity, whom get the most joy out of stag hunting and the great outdoors. A life of privilege isn't given, it isn't asked for, you are born into it's bussom, and it's shackles stick. All the members of the Royal Family are locked to this world the public cannot understand, and why would they? The aren't a part of it, yet in some ways they are an inexistent part, which a hereditary form of selection dictated the Monarchy, in the relic ridden past.

    ''Sleeping in the streets and pulling out their hair for someone they never knew. And they think we're mad!''

    The music, cinematography, and acting all propel proceedings into a higher sphere of greatness. When these things come together, we the audience are in awe of it. The Queen waiting for her help as her car breaks down in a remote stream, is a pause, a breath of freedom, in the unrelenting drama of scandal and oppression. When she looks up and sees the Stag in the distance, looking this way in return, she exclaims its beauty and at the same time it's appearance and being there, symbolizes something greater. It is a symbol and metaphor of glorious hope, a hope for the future, a future not so distant, an evolution of tradition and regal formalities.
    Later we see a Tony Blair and Queen, two months later after events, which shows us the mind set and bonding of the two giants of our time. We see the ushering of past merging with progress, tradition giving way to progress...yet the coin is flipped in the sense of progress still honouring tradition and mutual respect for an age old sovereign and Saviour of our people.

    As for Diana, labeled the People's Princess, she was a Goddess among us, cruelly snatched away in the peak of her existence. Her vibrant energy and unrelenting essence was an inspiration to our world and a burning candle of hope and generosity. Charities, celebrities, royalty and countless people were all in awe of her, and if she was still around today I'm sure her good would still be generated in droves by her shining presence and influence. The week of her demise, shocked a nation and an onlooking World, it even shocked a private family mysterious to all, into action and remorse. A public ushering in their guidance and condolences to be shared with all and everyone.

    Overall, The Queen is a miracle of performances, and a wondrous historical capturing of a few days, that feel like a lifetime of struggle. A journey of discovery and a capturing of one of the most powerful women of our time. An inspirational account that Helen Mirren beautifully captures on each frame she graces and is upon. The Queen shows us the greatness of England, of our Country, of our land. The United Kingdom, in all it's traditional, monarchy proud, shining beacon of hope instances. Even in our darkest hour, we can prevail, and Her Royal Majesty does just that. She prevails.

    ''You must show your strength. Reassert your authority. You sit on the most powerful throne in Europe, head of an unbroken line that goes back more than a thousand years. Do you think any of your predecessors would have dropped everything and gone up to London because a bunch of hysterics carrying candles needed help with their grief? Huh! As for that silly Mr. Blair with his Cheshire Cat grin...''
  • buddyacker
    November 4, 2009
    buddyacker
    THE TRANSFORMATION
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    BOTTOM LINE: The movie is great on its own, but Helen Mirren helps elevate it to the spectacular level.

    Any one of us young folks who grew up during the '90s remembers Princess Diana. Everytime our parents turned on the news, there she was, smiling and sometimes getting into more trouble than she needed to. Like the song says, "Girls just want to have fun" and Diana did before unfortunately dying at the far-too-young age of 36. Her funeral was held at Westminster Abbey and millions around the world viewed it from the comfort of their living rooms. This and the royal family's reaction are the bases of "The Queen," a movie that sets out to give viewers a dramatized version of what went on behind the scenes.

    The movie is exquisitely profound, sophisticated, thought-provoking, and overall touching and I'd be hard-pressed to find a better performance in the history of film than that of Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II. She just does everything right. Her reactions to situations are spot-on. She even does the proper facial expressions at the right time. Her attitude is contagious. She plays the part of what would seem to be a bigot well but at the same time makes you care about her. What movie is Mirren not good in? I recently saw her in "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," and while that movie is nothing to talk about for more than a minute, she still was great. Michael Sheen is also terrific as Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. I went and watched some footage of Blair giving various speeches and such and Sheen just has got it down pat. I saw very little differences between Blair and Sheen's 'people's princess' speeches as well as the actual Queen and Mirren's speeches on the day following Diana's funeral. These people did their homework.

    I could see some younger children who weren't around during this timeframe or don't necessarily understand the basics of what it takes to be a politician being bored with "The Queen." I could see some of my own friends zoning out as well. But there is nobody out there who can tell me that, after watching the movie, they didn't notice how great Helen Mirren was. They would simply be lying to me and to themselves. I suggest that you watch "The Queen" and then avoid lying. "HELL YES!"

    Critics who agree:
    Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: "The Queen is a spellbinding story of opposed passions -- of Elizabeth's icy resolve to keep the royal family separate and aloof from the death of the divorced Diana, who was legally no longer a royal, and of Blair's correct reading of the public mood."
    Score: **** (out of four)
    Why I agree: The movie lets you pick a side: do you agree with Blair or do you agree with the Queen? I was somewhere right in the middle.

    David Edelstein, New York Magazine: "The Queen is the most reverent irreverent comedy imaginable. Or maybe it's the most irreverent reverent comedy. Either way, it's a small masterpiece."
    Score: 100 (out of 100)
    Why I agree: I'd go with the reverent irreverant angle. I find it open, honest, and very respectful to the actual happenings.

    Lou Lumenick, New York Post: "All hail the great Helen Mirren, who after her triumph in HBO's "Elizabeth," delivers the performance of a lifetime as that monarch's frumpy, 20th century namesake in Stephen Frear's witty, touching and engrossing "The Queen"."
    Score: **** (out of four)
    Why I agree: After seeing Mirren's performance in the movie, I want to go and pick up the "Elizabeth" miniseries on DVD.

    Claudia Puig, USA Today: "Although this is no documentary, we feel we are getting a glimpse of what went on behind the scenes nearly a decade ago. And the view we get is enlightening, edgily comic, emotionally affecting and profoundly compelling. "The Queen" is majestically captivating."
    Score: **** (out of four)
    Why I agree: Although I think that Mrs. Puig needs to lighten up on the adjectives (wow, my head is spinning), I certainly agree that the film was captivating.

    Ty Burr, Boston Globe: "So good is Mirren, though -- so real does she make this woman whom you and I will never know -- that you sense Elizabeth recognizes the truth of the symbolism even as she finds it a bit much. Taste can carry you only so far, and ``The Queen" is about a woman finally understanding she's a reflection of her people rather than the other way around."
    Score: **** (out of four)
    Why I agree: In the end of the movie, and I'm assuming in the instance of the actual event, I could tell that Queen Elizabeth II was trying to do what she thought was the right thing to do.

    Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor: "Helen Mirren gives the mostly subtly expressive performance based on a living historical figure that I've ever seen."
    Score: 100 (out of 100)
    Why I agree: There's no reason for me to disagree.

    Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: "The film goes pretty easy on the royals in the end, and it's a flattering portrait of Blair. But it's not credulous. Frears may swim in the political mainstream with "The Queen" but he does so like a champion channel crosser."
    Score: ***½ (out of four)
    Why I agree: Everyone knows that the film, like any movie, is not an exact portrayal of what really happened, but it's a pretty damn good one.

    Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: "Marvelously smart, funny and entertaining film."
    Score: 90 (out of 100)
    Why I agree: Find me a smarter movie and I'll argue my case against it.

    Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: "Helen Mirren's allure lies not in finding what's regal in every woman she plays, but in finding what's womanly in every royal."
    Score: A-
    Why I agree: That IS Mirren's allure. I find myself drawn to her performances like a moth to a fire. Let the flames roar.

    Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: "One of the best and liveliest movies of the year - funny and touching in ways you can't predict."
    Score: ***½ (out of four)
    Why I agree: Mr. Travers points out what most of the other critics also pointed out, but he mentions that the movie is lively, which is a sentiment that I share.

    Richard Corliss, TIME: "Mirren, who won an Emmy playing Elizabeth I for HBO, may deserve an Oscar for this ripe appraisal of Elizabeth II."
    Score: 80 (out of 100)
  • morosed
    November 1, 2009
    morosed
    great acting by Helen Mirren, lols at the lookalikes in this
  • gabihbi
    October 24, 2009
    gabihbi
    Add a review (optional)...
  • ralch
    October 8, 2009
    ralch
    LETTERBOX. Sumamente bien hecha y matizada a tono con sus sujetos, pero no puede ocultar del todo que se trata de gente poco interesante y banal. / Extremely well made and nuanced according to its subjects, but can't completely hide the fact that these are not very interesting an...( read more)d rather banal people.
  • princessfiona9
    September 25, 2009
    princessfiona9
    It's a very slow movie, but Helen Mirren is phenomenal! James Cromwell and Michael Sheen are very good also.

View All The Queen Reviews

Critic Reviews

October 13, 2006
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Told in quiet scenes of proper behavior and guarded speech, The Queen is a spellbinding story of opposed passions. full review

October 5, 2006
Claudia Puig, USA Today

A fascinating character study and a brilliantly crafted drama. It has some of the wittiest writing in recent memory and spot-on performances. full review

October 2, 2006
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker

How could Frears and his cast rise above the sins of the miniseries? One answer is the force of that cast. full review

October 1, 2006
Pete Hammond, Maxim

A film that takes you behind the most famous closed doors in the world for a wickedly funny, fascinating and ultimately moving story of our times. full review

September 29, 2006
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

The Queen tears off the royal robe and suggests that, despite what Johnny Rotten said, she is a human being. full review

September 27, 2006
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

Mirren's intensely, imposingly regal even when the visually competent, narratively unaffecting The Queen proves only pedestrian. full review

September 25, 2006
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

All hail Helen Mirren, who delivers a master class in acting in The Queen. full review

September 25, 2006
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

The Queen is the most reverent irreverent comedy imaginable. Or maybe it's the most irreverent reverent comedy. Either way, it's a small masterpiece. full review

View more The Queen reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • starlight4682
    June 5, 2007
    starlight4682
    I thought it was very interesting. Didn't Helen Mirren play in Teaching Mrs. Tingle?
  • tweakandtwitch
    June 5, 2007
    tweakandtwitch
    I thought lady DIANA was AWESOME!!!!! If everyone like the queen and her ex would of left her alone she would be here to-day!



    T.T.F.N(ta,ta for now!)
    BLUEDEMOND
  • tweakandtwitch
    June 5, 2007
    tweakandtwitch
    I thought lady DIANA was AWESOME!!!!! If everyone like the queen and her ex would of left her alone she would be here to-day!



    T.T.F.N(ta,ta for now!)
    BLUEDEMOND
  • Eugene
    May 2, 2007
    Eugene
    Its great to see a movie that challenges public perception.
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