"The Queen": a film about Elizabeth II and the death of Diana.

[foiegrass]

Originally Posted by crisiñaki

When QEII is gone, the whole notion of a duty-first Monarch will end...

I agree wholeheartedly. May she live for many many years more!

[ysbel]

Helen Mirren gets Golden Globe nomination for 'The Queen'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6178833.stm

The movie gets a nomination too.

[Elise27]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

I saw it tonight. Arse gravy. Pure arse gravy. It was the most pathetic, snot driven, poorly written, cinematically backward film I have ever had the misfortune to pay for. I said to the cashier at the cinema, "You should wear a black and white striped top and a beret, because you've just robbed me of 3.50". I have never been so bored in all my life. Helen Mirren comes on in some dodgy old wig and a forced voice and displays the film equivalent of Chernobyl. This endless dribbly garbage has no real plot and any acting ability has obviously been left at home. Add the hen-party performances of Mirren and Sylvia Sims to the slash-your-wrists soundtrack and you get a mucus drenched flurry of crap acting and extremely poor direction. It runs like an Ealing comedy without the laughs but with the same dodgy scenery.

So, there I sat, thinking of the money I'd just spent practically seeing pennies float away before my eyes and I sat being forced to watch Sylvia Sims portray the Queen Mother on this screen which is obviously designed for inmates of Moorefield's Eye Hospital. If we're supposed to believe Sims's portrayal is right, the Queen Mother was obviously on LSD in her latter years and Prince Philip was cryogenically frozen in 1956.

Poor Robin Janvrin was portrayed as Darth Vader whilst Charles - well, if he really is that weak I've seriously got him wrong. Now, alot of people have said that they truly believed Helen Mirren was the Queen. Has the Queen undergone a full body transplant since I last saw her? Goodness me, I sat there in this cinema and usually I think people doing rude things in the back row is appalling behaviour but what else was there do whilst this flood of cinematic defecation was splurged out over the popcorn and 3 old ladies in the front view who actually walked out. I would have done the same but I thought, "I've paid this much, I'm staying".

My advice - don't go and see this film and certainly don't go on a date to the cinema to see this because you'll never see him again. I can't actually believe this film is being tipped for awards! I came out of the cinema and I thought for a moment that someone had crept in and rubbed penguin faeces into my eyes. It was just like watching a very bad school play production of "Mrs Doubtfire" where the title role is played by the Headmaster who dresses up in sussies at the weekends anyway. Just appalling.

In short ; I didn't like it.

well praise for the movie is coming from all quarters, and helen has already won numerous awards---i havent counted but shes been named best actress almost everywhere. i have yet to read a negative review of the movie in the papers. so your take on the film is interesting.

[Lady Bluffton]

Finally got to see The Queen this afternoon at a local theatre -- pretty full screening for Christmas Day afternoon. First of all, let me say that if you read up as much as I do on the British Royal Family, you were well able to follow some of the more subtle things (ex. Phillip's comments about "getting Diana to tow the line" about Charles' continuing post-marriage relationship with Camilla, that "that's just the way things are done"; Elizabeth, "oh really, Phillip?", and the implication that Philip may have been unfaithful?). But what I took away from the movie is what a psychologically complex person the Queen herself must be. What an emotional burden to live as a person who must constantly show an unassailably neutral, constantly pleasant, and perfectly regal face to the public but must for necessity's sake guard her private life and feelings with rigor and sacrifice. I greatly admire the woman even more now having watched the movie.

And it was eerie how much Helen Mirren was able to mimic her mannerisms, voice, and even stride. And isn't Helen Mirren quite statuesque? 5'10" or so??? She managed through some sort of clever costuming and staging (and perhaps casting of a much taller Prince Phillip) to seem quite petite, just like the real queen. Oscar-level performance.

[QueenMaharet]

First of all, let me say that if you read up as much as I do on the British Royal Family, you were well able to follow some of the more subtle things (ex. Phillip's comments about "getting Diana to tow the line" about Charles' continuing post-marriage relationship with Camilla, that "that's just the way things are done"; Elizabeth, "oh really, Phillip?", and the implication that Philip may have been unfaithful?).

I'm so glad that someone else caught that, I was talking to some of my friends about it and that gave me a very confused look.....then again, they hadn't seen the movie and didn't really care about it either......*sniff* I'm the only one in my area that is interested in Queen Elizabeth II.....

Also, I didn't know that Helen Mirran was so tall, I couldn't tell at all. She was amazing, and while I would never confuse her with the real queen, I thought she got her characteristics down pat.

Another scene that I liked was when the Queen was sitting on the bank of the river after her car broke and began crying a bit. I liked how when she saw the deer she smiled, and her whole face lit up, just like it really does, and kind of gave us a glimpse into her personality and her more private feelings, but then moments later she composed herself and the smile faded away. It was like a door closing the change was so complete. I dunno, it may just be me, but I thought that scene was neat.

~QM

[crisiñaki]

Gotta love Helen Mirren, no one plays the British Queens like she does
And do you remember the beginning of the movie, when she's being portrayed and in a moment she looks at the camera and it says "The Queen" in that moment the resemblance was sooooooooooo awesome, Mirren is really a great actress and if she's 5'10 how tall is the actor that portrays Prince Philip? 'cuz the height difference between them is quite large

[Lady Bluffton]

Originally Posted by crisiñaki

Mirren is really a great actress and if she's 5'10 how tall is the actor that portrays Prince Philip? 'cuz the height difference between them is quite large

According to Wikipedia (sorry I couldn't find a more reliable source!),

"Cromwell is also known for his unusually tall stature; he stands at 201 cm (approx 6 ft 7 in)."

So if Helen Mirren is 5'10, then he was a good 9 inches taller; if QEII is 5'3 or so, then the real Prince Phillip is about 9 or so inches taller than her, so right on!

[Elspeth]

On one biographical page of Helen Mirren's, it says she's 5' 4", which isn't all that different from the Queen's height.

[crisiñaki]

my husband is 6'6, I'm 6' and I reach about a little above his shoulder in flats so I don't think Mirren is that short, because the height difference would have been huge

This is Hugh Laurie with her at the Emmy Awards and he's a pretty tall guy (having seen him in person, he's taller than me) so Mirren is at least 5'8 :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Sv7Hy91EgM

[Von Schlesian]

I saw the film last night and was delighted by it. In the scene at number 10, when Tony Blair's press secretary makes the snide remarks about Her Majesty and 'Tony' tears him to shreds for it, I must admit, the man endeared himself to me ... only for a moment though BeatrixFan
I adored Dame Helen's portrayal very much and am looking forward to seeing it again, I'm just not quite sure about the stride, it didn't seem natural.
As for the height difference, when I spoke to The Duke of Edinburgh in March, he and I were eye-level with eachother and I'm 6'1". Allowing for HRH's slouch, I'd say he's 6'3" and perhaps 6'4-5" in 1997.

[Olka]

I watched it few days ago, I really liked it, it was a great one. I loved the way the Queen speaks and her humour, the actress was just fantastic.

[...JuAnItA...]

I saw the film yesterday and i love it!
Helen Mirren was great! And i like the way the film is. Because the "centre" is the Queen and not Diana's death. It's different.
BTW, i coulnd't agree more with Lady Bluffton and QueenMaharet.
Anyway i think it is one of the best films of 2006!

[Princess Arabella]

Hello everyone! I have seen "The Queen" twice. I absolutely loved this film . Even my friends who are not royalty fans were amazed by Helen Mirren's performance and also with Michael Sheen who played Tony Blair so brilliantly. I have learned that the Monarch herself gave the film her royal stamp of approval. Apparently, Her Majesty liked it so much that she invited Helen Mirren and a few other members involved with the production for lunch at the palace next year. Hopefully the actress will already be in possession of her Golden Globe and Academy Award, which she certainly deserves! I am posting a link with the article. My apologies if it has been posted already (I browsed through many posts but didn't see it). One thing I don't agree with the article though. It mentions the possibility of Queen Elizabeth not being present at the luncheon to meet the other "Queen". Well, I don't think she would have invited them had she not had plans 'to grace the guests with her presence'.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1773

A Happy New Year to everyone!

[sara1981]

im really wanted see that movie! but its so awesome

but Helen Mirren really bravo in their roles as HM Queen Elizabeth and also Elizabeth I but im sure she will get globes award anytimes and also academy awards im hope she will get both awards for their movies.

[Elise27]

i saw helen once--from far---and she seemed tall but i do have to say i've noticed that she is always wearing huge heels, especially at awards shows, so i dont think she is really very tall.

[flcty]

I just saw the film last week. It was really moving (showing film clips of the public people around Buckingham Palace and the steer getting shoot and Helen M. going to see the dead animal ) (it was also very funny [love Tony + Cherie Blair + Tony's publicity advisor]). I had no idea that the flag post indicated whether the Queen was in Buckingham Palace or not.

[sinead]

Just noticed that Dame Helen Mirren is nominated for BAFTA for her role in the 'The Queen' and a Golden Globe, so someone out there must think that she is worthy of praise for her portrayal of the monarch.

[crisiñaki]

Originally Posted by sinead

Just noticed that Dame Helen Mirren is nominated for BAFTA for her role in the 'The Queen' and a Golden Globe, so someone out there must think that she is worthy of praise for her portrayal of the monarch.

If she wins those two awards, the Oscar's probability is very high, I hope she gets that, she deserves it after that superb part!