I saw 'The Queen' on the day Her Majesty herself was opening Parliament, so in reality as well as film, as I was in London.
I greatly enjoyed the film, which I felt, in an understated and fittingly British manner provides balance to 'that week' (as Tony Blair calls it at the end) and a valuable look at why HM sometimes seems remote and unsmiling.
Tony Blair in fact comes out of the film quite well: the saying that it is lonely at the top is amply shown over the movie and it is one of the things that he and HM have in common, for while their supporters, spin-doctors, relatives and courtiers are displaying group myopia, both Blair and HM see the bigger picture; Blair is understanding of the Queen's predicament and the Queen begins to see more than anyone else in the Royal Family that perhaps Diana was not treated as well as she might have been.
The stag incident mentioned by Jessica Rose illustrates HM's deep-seated love of animals as well as being figurative in the way Jessica describes. I, too, found it moving, as was also the moment when the Queen, shocked by the vitriol aimed at her in some of the messages attached to tributes to Diana outside Buckingham Palace, is handed a posy specifically for her by a child.
The film gives a gentle and witty view into the relationship between the Queen and her Prime Minister, the engagingly clumsy and archaic protocol involved, and the way they begin to establish a bond.
Helen Mirren is brilliant in the title role - at moments you'd think she really is the Queen - and Michael Sheen's portrayal of Blair is very good too.
Prince Philip is extremely one dimensional hence the part is more of a caricature. The Queen Mother seemed more like an upmarket Blackpool landlady (no disrespect to Sylvia Simms but rather the direction) and the voice isn't right: the Queen mum's voice was a softer and gentler version of the Queen's, but no less aristocratic.
To conclude, I found the film thought-provoking, sympathetic, witty and well worth seeing. I hope the Queen herself has seen it as I think it shows us what she has tried to be all these years - a devoted and dutiful monarch who cares very much about this country.
I greatly enjoyed the film, which I felt, in an understated and fittingly British manner provides balance to 'that week' (as Tony Blair calls it at the end) and a valuable look at why HM sometimes seems remote and unsmiling.
Tony Blair in fact comes out of the film quite well: the saying that it is lonely at the top is amply shown over the movie and it is one of the things that he and HM have in common, for while their supporters, spin-doctors, relatives and courtiers are displaying group myopia, both Blair and HM see the bigger picture; Blair is understanding of the Queen's predicament and the Queen begins to see more than anyone else in the Royal Family that perhaps Diana was not treated as well as she might have been.
The stag incident mentioned by Jessica Rose illustrates HM's deep-seated love of animals as well as being figurative in the way Jessica describes. I, too, found it moving, as was also the moment when the Queen, shocked by the vitriol aimed at her in some of the messages attached to tributes to Diana outside Buckingham Palace, is handed a posy specifically for her by a child.
The film gives a gentle and witty view into the relationship between the Queen and her Prime Minister, the engagingly clumsy and archaic protocol involved, and the way they begin to establish a bond.
Helen Mirren is brilliant in the title role - at moments you'd think she really is the Queen - and Michael Sheen's portrayal of Blair is very good too.
Prince Philip is extremely one dimensional hence the part is more of a caricature. The Queen Mother seemed more like an upmarket Blackpool landlady (no disrespect to Sylvia Simms but rather the direction) and the voice isn't right: the Queen mum's voice was a softer and gentler version of the Queen's, but no less aristocratic.
To conclude, I found the film thought-provoking, sympathetic, witty and well worth seeing. I hope the Queen herself has seen it as I think it shows us what she has tried to be all these years - a devoted and dutiful monarch who cares very much about this country.