Helen Mirren plays "The Queen"

I PARTICULARLY WANTED TO SEE this film when it came out a couple of years ago. But seasons are so very short that this movie, grand enough to attract huge display stacks at the local supermarket on DVD with a free box of chocolates, had been pulled from all our local multiscreens in less than a month. Which is far too short a time for my brain to process information!

Having seen these clips I'd say it falls into the typically annoying film-maker's traps of caricaturing both characters and situation. I mean, as if we're meant to believe the New Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair was interested in PR more than anything else. Of coure he was very much in tune with image, but I think even he had mightier and meatier concerns in his role as PM.

I love the telling set design and contrasts between Her Majesty's stateliness and the Blairs' New Labour New Britain Argos catalogue version of number 11 Downing Street (where they actually lived, though keeping the formal address of number 10. Number 10's private apartments were too pokey for a young family with small kids so they stayed in the Chancellor of the Exchequer (finance minister's) official quarters next door.

Part 1 of 3



Part 2 of 3



Part 3 of 3



Helen Mirren always said she was not interested in "impersonating" Elizabeth II, rather to capture her spirit on film, which is what most reviewers consider she achieved remarkably well.

Here's the actual Broadcast to the British People as shown in 2/2 above...