SYNOPSIS:
When news of the death of Princess Diana, undoubtedly the
most famous woman in the world, breaks upon a shocked and
disbelieving British public, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
retreats behind the walls of Balmoral Castle with her family,
unable to comprehend the public response to the tragedy. For
Tony Blair, the popular and newly elected Prime Minister,
the people’s need for reassurance and support from their
leaders is palpable. As the unprecedented outpouring of emotion
grows ever stronger, Blair must find a way to reconnect the
Queen with the British public.
MOVIE
REVIEW
The Queen
is an intelligent film, no questions about it.
Any self-respected
movie-goer would tell you how the Stephen Frears-directed
movie won bagfuls of trophies at awards all over the world.
And any self-respected film fan would also tell you how it
also won the hearts of critics around the globe.
The
star here is no doubt Dame Helen Mirren (Gosford Park, Calendar
Girls). The rightful recipient of this year’s Best Actress
award at the Oscars shines with her very personal portrayal
of HM Queen Elizabeth II. But another gem to be uncovered
is actor Michael Sheen (Kingdom of Heaven, Underworld: Evolution).
His motivated characterization of the newly-appointed Prime
Minister Tony Blair is one of the most interesting and fresh
celluloid performances of the year.
If you
don’t already know by now, the story of this clever
picture tells of how the regal Queen Elizabeth II struggles
with her position as a ruler after the death of a certain
Princess Diana.
The smart
approach of mixing news archival footage and wonderful performances
from a reliable cast will make you feel for this well-told
docudrama. Every emotion and inner demon is elegantly displayed
with the film’s sharp and quick humour.
There
is no need for flashy and melodramatic moments. There is no
need for over-the-top acting and rousing music underscore.
Together with a group of top-notch British actors like Sylvia
Syms and Alex Jennings, Mirren and Sheen give us a down-to-earth
and honest tale of revelation and affection.
With Alexandre
Desplat’s (Syriana, The Painted Veil) witty music composition
and Affonso Beato’s (Ghost World, Dark Water) naturalistic
cinematography, Frears (Dirty Pretty Things, Mrs. Henderson
Presents) has successfully made a film that engages as well
as moves.
So, it’s
time again to all hail The Queen.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
This Code 3 disc contains a 9-minute “Making
Of” which brings you behind the camera of certain scenes
from the movie (it’s nothing much really, just abrupt
clips of the actors talking and rehearsing), a generous 26-minute
“Interviews” where you can hear stars like Mirren
and Sheen talk about their experiences and inspirations (this
one is worth listening to, especially when the movie does
not come with a commentary track), and a theatrical trailer
which makes the film look like an intense thriller.
AUDIO/VISUAL:
The disc’s visual transfer makes the film look regal
and classy, while having the option of English Dolby Digital
2.0/5.1 as its soundtrack.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD
RATING :
Review
by John Li
|
