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The Queen

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The Queen (2006)

97%
82%
88%
N/A
N/A
N/A
97 %
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.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Rated: 12A

Runtime: 1 hr 43 mins

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 youthful, optimistic Tony Blair (Michael Sheen). In Buckingham Palace, the Queen doesn't... 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]

Genre: Dramas

Starring: Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell, Sylvia Syms, Alex Jennings

Director: Stephen Frears
Screenwriter: Peter Morgan
Producer: Andy Harries, Tracey Seaward, Christine Langan
Composer: Alexander Desplat

DVD Info

Release:

Dec 4, 2008

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Keep Case
  • Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - Spanish
  • Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - English
  • Subtitles - Spanish - Optional

Additional Release Material:

  • Audio Commentary - 1. Robert Lacey - British Historian
  • 2. Stephen Frears - Director; Peter Morgan - Writer
  • Behind the Scenes - "The Making of THE QUEEN"

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >> >|
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Ratings Image
3/5

The serio-comic approach offers a confusing portrait of the Queen's public and private faces: part sober drama, part high camp, part soap opera, and part right royal romp.

Full Review | comment Comment
06/13/07
Anton Bitel
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
N/A

It is intelligent, hilariously funny and, ultimately, rather moving.

Full Review | comment Comment
01/20/07
Philip French
Observer [UK]
Ratings Image
N/A

It’s a film of delicious performances and great wit.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/23/06
Dave Calhoun
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
4/5

Seven days that shook the Monarchy to its very core are explored in this fascinating insight into the Royal Family following the death of Diana.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/23/06
David Edwards
Daily Mirror [UK]
Ratings Image
4/5

Fascinating, funny, wicked and to the point, this is an excellent film about a week every Briton over the age of 15 will remember vividly.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/23/06
Kim Newman
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
3/5

Engaging drama with impressive performances, though it's slightly hampered by the fact that we already know how it ends.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/23/06
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
Ratings Image
4/5

This is, after all, a period movie that leaves you with a feeling of sadness at how little has changed.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/23/06
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
5/5

Why is a British film as good as The Queen such a depressing rarity?

Full Review | comment Comment
09/23/06
Robert Hanks
Independent
Ratings Image
2/5

The tabloid appeal is obvious, but Morgan's script is tomorrow's chip paper.

Full Review | comment 4 Comments
09/05/06
Stella Papamichael
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
4/5

Thoroughly gripping and ultimately moving.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/24/06
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
Ratings Image
N/A

She is a human being.

Full Review | comment Comment
05/12/08
Thomas Peyser
Style Weekly (Richmond, VA)
Ratings Image
8/10

The Queen is an unqualified triumph that works on all levels.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/28/08
Brandon Fibbs
BrandonFibbs.com
Ratings Image
5/5

Like the Queen, Mirren is saying: This is how you act, this is how you survive, this is how you reign.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/22/07
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com
Ratings Image
N/A

I was to this film. It's slow and plodding throughout, yet the format Frears brings to the table is gripping in its balance.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/13/07
Ryan Cracknell
Calgary Movies
Ratings Image
3/4

...a compelling drama that effectively humanizes the title character...

Full Review | comment Comment
08/04/07
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Ratings Image
4/4

An intelligent script that keeps in the spirit and tone of Britain's House of Mountbatten-Windsor, and yet slyly manages a wink at the audience every now and then.

Full Review | comment Comment
07/28/07
James Plath
Reel.com
Ratings Image
N/A

To his credit, Frears doesn't try to solicit too much sympathy for his Queen, but the film goes down the navel-gazing rabbit hole just the same.

Full Review | comment Comment
07/14/07
Kevin Koehler
Pretentious Musings
Ratings Image
4/4

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
07/14/07
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound
Ratings Image
N/A

... beneath the simple and straightforward facade lies a hidden depth that does not announce itself with dramatic intensity ...

Full Review | comment Comment
07/10/07
Felix Gonzalez Jr.
DVD Review
Ratings Image
6/10

britanski film u najpozitivnijem smislu rije%u010Di

Full Review | comment Comment
06/22/07
Dragan Antulov
Index.hr
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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