Tied for the best movie I have ever seen

Gripping story with well-crafted characters

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The QueenThe conversations are bang on accurate and so are the behaviour and the environment offered to the set which is rich and clean visually (for obvious reasons) that endorses its stunning production, costume and make-up design. The writing is witty as the stakes projected are bigger and not bigger at the same time, finding the perfect balance of necessity and priority where the makers doesn't spend their time on creating something colossal and instead goes deep and detailed within the boundaries allotted. Peter Morgan has done a terrific work on writing this justifying script that is supported decently by Stephen Frears whose brilliant execution skills helps it sail off easily along with the perfect editing. The feature scores majestically on performance where Helen Mirren is doing some of the best work of her career and is supported well by Michael Sheen. Having said that, the writing is a bit overcooked and unfortunately isn't as convoluted as the makers think. The feature has gripping screenplay, stellar performance and excellent execution on its side but lacks the connection with the audience somehow. The Queen reigns bold and uneasy if not almighty, and the primary reason would be the well thought-out structure of it that is unique and unfamiliar to the audience.

Can you remember the weeks after the death of Princess Diana? For those who don't remember or were not there at the time, the Princess of Wales Diana Spencer died on 31st of August 1997 and the whole world went into morning. The British people in particular were very upset with her death with seemingly millions joining together in their grief, an unprecedented move that was never before seen or since. This is the backdrop for The Queen.The Queen begins with Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) being elected Prime Minster and goes through the next few weeks until the public funeral on September the 5th. The main focus is on the royal family trying to comprehend the death and struggling to understand the reaction that occurred. The film does itself a favour by focusing on the Royal family and inability to understand the change of behavior on the British people. I like fact the movie does not vilify or deify the family, it treats them like humans. Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth 2nd is so very believable as the queen, you do not even see her as Helen Mirren, for all intents and purposes is the Queen. She is a woman who does not understand what to do asides from what is to be expected of her and the film does not judge her on it, if anything it sympathies with her. Michael Sheen is uncanny as Tony Blair, his smile, his accent it is all so believable. Same goes with James Cromwell as Prince Philip I can't see anyone else portraying Prince Philip or anyone else doing it as well as James Cromwell. The film is flawless on a technical standpoint; I cannot see any flaws in terms of filmmaking. Overall a very well made movie. I think one of the best moments of editing in the moving is how the movie inter cuts old recordings of Diana with the first person perspective of the driver and the occasionally cut to the reporters chasing the car.The film is mostly accurate to the historical events, with some minor chances to simplify the events for narrative purposes. It does paint the press in a somewhat negative light and does gloss over the entire backlash against the journalists that resulted in Diana's death. It just has a missed opportunity that could have been explored if it had a longer running time. But it does not really hurt the movie overall. The Queen is a pretty good movie all things considered. I really cannot find much to talk about. So yeah...

When thinking about which actress is tailor-made to play Great Britain's reigning head of state - Queen Elizabeth II - there is a very short list of names that one can put together. Chief among them is Helen Mirren, and the legendary actress got her chance to portray what is perhaps the role of a lifetime in 2006's 'The Queen.'The film looks behind the curtains of Buckingham and Balmoral to show the royal family's thought process and sparring with newly-elected Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) in the hours and days following the tragic death of Princess Diana - "the People's Princess." This glimpse into a circle of people that is rarely possible is what many found to be the main draw in the best picture-nominated film, and while there is an all-star cast here (James Cromwell as Prince Philip, Sylvia Syms as the Queen Mother and Alex Jennings as Prince Charles), Mirren's first-rate delivery of Elizabeth II's calculating, cold demeanor during this period in her life is really what everyone is here for - and the Academy agreed, handing Mirren a gold statue for best performance by an actress in a leading role.While it's true that Mirren steals every scene she's in, Sheen's portrayal of Blair is also to be respected. The rivalry that forms between the two, including the divergence in the public's perception of them, is clearly evident, but as only the Brits can do, they disagree with class. Another element that makes 'The Queen' a powerful film is its soundtrack. Alexandre Desplat proves once again why he is a go-to for soundtracks of serious dramas.'The Queen' is another reminder that audiences are fascinated with royalty, and how a great film can be created by focusing on angle and side of a well-known event that few were aware of.

I must be the last person on earth to see this movie. Saw it on Netflix and decided to jump in. The story is established: Diana dies and the British go into more mourning than they did over the deaths of Winston Churchill or Freddie Mercury. OTOH, the Royal Family is saying "what the eff" is this all about. Very slowly, the film follows the efforts of brand new PM Tony ("call me Tony") Blair as he tries to nudge the royals into showing some public face of grief over the tragedy. Helen Mirren is OK I guess as the queen. Really, who can judge whether her portrayal is accurate. It's a rare Mirren movie where she leaves her clothes on, but I guess that would have been gratuitous nudity. You want to strangle Prince Philip, so that was a good portrayal b/c that is how you were supposed to feel. The Blair character was nauseating, but so was Blair in real life so "check" on that one. The dogs were good. Well, now I can say I saw it.