Megan and I watched "The Queen" last night. As you may have noticed, I tend to prefer documentary films to dramatic films, but I thought this one was extremely well done. Helen Mirren's performance was outstanding. The film included bits and pieces of real footage and that may have been part of its appeal for me.The monarchy is such an odd concept for me. I don't get it. Still, I felt sympathy towards Elizabeth, not so much because of the anger directed towards her and her initial lack of response to Diana's death (the primary focus of the film), but because she has been so insulated from real life and so hamstrung by tradition and expectations that she has never been able to choose her own destiny. At one point they mention how, when she returns to the palace after Diana's death and walks among the crowd, looking at the sea of flowers that have been left, that it is the first time she has appeared publicly among her subjects since World War II.
Anyways, it was a neat film and worth checking out. You'll especially enjoy the part where she and Phillip are ripping farts and lighting them on fire.
7 comments:
I loved this movie. Helen Mirren was great, and knows how to rock a cardigan. I felt sorry for the queen trying to maintain her old-school dignity and Britishness in the face of Diana's cult of personality - she just couldn't comprehend what was happening. I'd argue that Elizabeth certainly chose to be queen, or at least accepted it. Her uncle's abdication brought her in line for the throne, so she knew what she was getting into and that she could give it up if she wanted.
The lighting farts scene was funny, but I was completely turned off by Phillip wearing leather and whipping her while she had the gag-ball in...
I thought Philip was a bit of a poor sport, not participating in the fart ceremonies without being given a two-day head start on the broccoli. And I thought the Queen was very endearing, the way she'd keep pulling the jawbreaker out of her mouth to see if she had sucked down to a new colour layer. Just ordinary folks, I'd say.
I agree, this film is outstanding. Of course I would have liked it even if it wasn't so good since I have an inappropiate crush on Ms. Mirren.
I watched it earlier this year on a flight to Honolulu. I must have missed the part with the fart ignition when I went the the ladies. I'll have to get it on Netflix and check it out again.
The Queen Mother wasn't drunk enough for me. They should have shown her drinking from large vases like in real life.
I loved that movie. It has got to be weird living like that, and I don't know if I'd be happy. But it's kind of hard to feel sorry for her - I mean, Jesus Christ. She's the fucking Queen of England. I was really struck by the grandeur and history of it all when I visited the Tower of London and they had film footage of her coronation. I was like "my God, no wonder she's a bitch. She's the fucking Queen of England. Who wouldn't be?"
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