The Queen

It is very easy to say that "The Queen" is one of the best movies of the year. It was the last movie I saw in 2006, and I can't think of a better way to have ended the year in terms of movies. We'll continue to hear more about this movie when Helen Mirren gets her Oscar nomination, and then again when she takes the stage to receive her award.

Set in the days following Princess Diana's death in 1997, we watch the fictionalized retelling of how the Royal Family reacts and how Britain's new prime minister, Tony Blair (Michael Sheen), is forced to deal with them. You'll recall the two different reactions that occurred after Di's death. One was an outpouring of emotion from British citizens, if not the world itself. The other was the much more reserved, if non-existant, response from the Royals. Trying to maintain some sort of balance is poor Mr. Blair.

The story of the Royal Family centers around Queen Elizabeth (Helen Mirren) and her lack of understanding of the current generation of citizens. Nobody comes out clean here, but Charles does end up salvaging his reputation. While the Queen simply doesn't get it, Prince Philip (James Cromwell) comes off looking like a complete ass. They do not hold Diana in high regard after all that had previously occurred with her divorce from Charles, and her death would seem to relieve them of a problem. It almost comes across as comical as Philip insists on taking William and Harry, who we only see from the back, hunting to get their mind off of the issue of their mother's death.

Meanwhile, back in London, newly elected Tony Blair is forced to deal with appeasing his country while maintaining proper relations with the Royals. Blair, who came to power seeking to modernize England, now realizes that the monarchy is even more behind-the-times than the country itself. The propriety that he is constantly reminded to maintain when dealing with the Queen is some of the funniest stuff on screen.

While "The Queen" is a fictional story based around a true event, by the end of the movie you feel as if you've had access to a true behind-the-scenes event. The performances across the board are outstanding. We eventually realize that Elizabeth isn't completely clueless but, rather, comes from a generation that was never encouraged to share their emotions. Mirren makes her character cold hearted yet warmly human at the same time. Not only is Sheen brilliant as Blair, he keenly develops a believable relationship with the Queen.

If you are at all interested in the Royal Family, Princess Diana, or even British politics, "The Queen" is a must see. The same can be said if you just want to see a great movie. I'd see it again, and I didn't say that much at all in 2006. "The Queen" is a royal treat; I give it an A+.

"The Queen" is rated PG-13 with a running time of 97 minutes.