The Queen

Towards the end of "The Queen," Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) receives a brief bit of advice from her majesty (Helen Mirren). As Blair's popularity surges, the disparate Queen, calm yet firm, tells him, "Someday, it'll happen to you too." Fittingly, Stephen Frears' depiction of Queen Elizabeth II, in the week following Princess Diana's death, comes at the heels of the real-life Blair's announcement that he will resign his post in the coming year. Blair, like Elizabeth, simply lost track of his purpose as a public servant, became disjointed with his citizens, and ultimately acted in neither party's best interest. But this is not to say that it comes from a lack of belief. Strong conviction can be a blessing or a curse, with very little separating the two. Queen Elizabeth, during the aftermath of Diana's death, simply took hers too far.

Luckily for Frears, his strengths lie in his film's utter sincerity in its writing, acting, and directing. All the pieces fall together to create a vivid characterization of a fascinating figure during an equally tumultuous period of time. The cornerstone is, of course, Dame Helen Mirren as the Queen. Her portrayal of Elizabeth II, not to be confused with the HBO movie "Elizabeth" where Mirren acted Elizabeth I, is unwavering in its tenacity. As a woman who believed her position was granted to her by God itself, Elizabeth is both tragic in her stubbornness and heartbreaking as she realizes her detachment from the modern world.

The veteran Mirren lets the realization unfold slowly. We are taken from a woman absolutely convinced she is doing the right thing to a mere shadow, a confused puppet who can't understand the unfolding world around her. To see her cry feels as if The Queen, the absolute, unshakable ruler has died, and all that remains is a woman overtaken by emotion. Dame Mirren truly makes the audience feel she is a divine entity shining over the common people, and progressively leads us to believe that perhaps, Elizabeth does have blood running through her veins, she does have life surging through her. She is not immortal, nor is she omnipotent. But she is real.

Despite Mirren capturing most of the film's charm, Michael Sheen does a commendable job as the recently elected Prime Minister, and the Queen's foremost critic over her post-Diana policy. He provides a youthful contrast to the largely aging cast, aptly showing joy and fear for his new position and the whirlwind events surrounding him. With solid advisors, Blair deftly balances the waters of both the mourning public and the scoop-hungry press, all the while saving the Queen from certain self-destruction and humiliation. Sheen is able to navigate around the aura of Mirren's performance and craft his own noteworthy work. The two work in tandem, like an ignorant master propelled by their loyal servant.

The other pieces of the film fall perfectly in line. The dialogue is executed brilliantly, complementing the well-written script. Blending both drama and timely comedy, the writing is enough to engage the audience in the characters without being overly verbose, a trait often found in period films. Despite the revelry, we're treated to a modern day drama with a royal backdrop. Most people seeing the film will be able to remember the events surrounding it, and thus, can ingest and compare the intimate look at the Royal side of the story as well as the general public's view. And, in the end, it lends respect not only to all involved with the film, but the real-life characters, events, and time itself.