Mirren and Sheen present gracious, humane portraits of two people whose conviction over their place in the world is shaken by unprecedented circumstance.
The Queen (2006)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:177
Fresh:171
Rotten:6
Average Rating:8.4/10
Consensus: Full of wit, humor, and pathos, Stephen Frears’ moving portrait of the British royals during the period after Princess Diana's death features not one but two remarkable performances, that of Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II and Michael Sheen as the newly-ordained Prime Minister Tony Blair. They embody their characters and lay bare the motivations behind these prominent people, giving viewers a glimpse into the inner workings of the British monarchy.
Theatrical Release:15-09-2006
Synopsis: Helen Mirren delivers a royally stirring performance as Queen Elizabeth II in Stephen Frears's fictional romp, THE QUEEN. The year is 1997, and Great Britain has a newly elected prime minister, the... Helen Mirren delivers a royally stirring performance as Queen Elizabeth II in Stephen Frears's fictional romp, THE QUEEN. The year is 1997, and Great Britain has a newly elected prime minister, the youthful, optimistic Tony Blair (Michael Sheen). In Buckingham Palace, the Queen doesn't appear to be fazed by Blair's arrival. Then again, she doesn't appear to be fazed by anything. But when Diana--her son's ex-wife and the mother of her grandchildren--is killed in a tragic car accident, her authority is tested as never before. While the Queen Mother (Sylvia Syms) and Prince Philip (James Cromwell) agree with her decision to remain at their holiday estate in Balmoral and not publicly acknowledge the tragedy, Tony Blair feels differently. Unfortunately, so do the English people. Making matters worse is the out-of-control media, which has begun to castigate the queen for her silence. In order to retain her grip on the country that she has served for so many years, she must swallow her pride and let the world know that she does, in fact, care. With THE QUEEN, the consistently superior Frears (DIRTY PRETTY THINGS, DANGEROUS LIAISONS) strikes once again. Peter Morgan's devilishly clever script provides the foundation, but the expert performances are what make the film such an exhilarating ride. What begins as a humorous critique of the stuffy royal family becomes an unexpectedly sympathetic portrait of a woman who carries the weight of a nation on her shoulders. This film was chosen to be the opening night selection of the 44th New York Film Festival organized by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. [More]
Starring: Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell, Sylvia Syms
Starring: Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell, Sylvia Syms, Alex Jennings, Roger Allam, Helen McCrory
Director: Stephen Frears
Director: Stephen Frears
Screenwriter: Peter Morgan
Producer: Andy Harries, Tracey Seaward, Christine Langan
Composer: Alexandre Desplat
Studio: Miramax Films
Reviews for The Queen
Mirren is the one to beat for the Best Actress Oscar -- and The Queen is one of the year's best movies. Don't miss it.
Eventually, the movie, as with other similarly humane and perceptive comedies, allows its audience to see that not only does everyone have his or her reasons for behaving as they do, those reasons may be far less easy to dismiss as one supposes.
The Queen is an interesting character study. There's not much plot to speak of, but it gives actors (including a splendid Helen Mirren) an opportunity to shine.
A crackling dramatic story that's intelligent, thoughtful and moving.
[A] deliciously sharp but strangely poignant comedy of political manners...at once wry and touching.
When I think what sentimental tripe The Queen could have been in the hands of amateurs, I bow in gratitude to all concerned.
How could Frears and his cast rise above the sins of the miniseries? One answer is the force of that cast.
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.
Helen Mirren's commanding performance as Elizabeth II is richly rewarding, allowing a multitude of angles for both ridicule and empathy.
...one of the most unique and startling looks at a monarchy and its government on the threshold of crisis.
As an insightful, unique take on what makes us human ... it's simply marvelous. Or, shall I say, majestic.
A People exposé as edited by The Economist, divulging almost everything you want to know about this real-life palace Dallas.
Bitingly funny... A surprisingly compassionate portrait of a rigid pragmatist in denial over the monarchy's out-of-touch dysfunction... Helen Mirren should start prepping her Academy Award speech now.
The Queen tears off the royal robe and suggests that, despite what Johnny Rotten said, she is a human being.
Latest News for The Queen
January 20, 2009:
RT Interview: Michael Sheen on Frost/Nixon
Michael Sheen has made a name for himself playing real-life characters, from Tony Blair in The Deal and The Queen, to Kenneth Williams in Fantabulosa!. This week sees the... More...
October 25, 2007:
Hollywood Braces for Writers' Strike
We're just a few days away from the Writers Guild strike deadline, and things aren't looking good. More...
October 02, 2007:
Peter Morgan Preps Sequel to The Queen
Peter Morgan has taken his "Blair trilogy" from The Deal to The Queen -- and now, Variety reports, he's preparing the third installment. More...
September 11, 2007:
Toronto Film Fest: Ang Lee's Lust, Caution Reviewed
Among the higher profile entries in Toronto, Ang Lee's Lust, Caution had a particular notoriety coming in; not only were fest-watchers waiting to confirm or contradict the early... More...
More DVDs
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 95% 95% | Star Trek |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 67% 67% | Public Enemies |
| 75% 75% | Julie & Julia |
| 95% 95% | The Cove |
| 85% 85% | World's Greatest Dad |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Fresh Links
Featured

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.



Top Critic

