The great Helen Mirren is certainly the star of this exceptional biography cinematic film. It portrays reverent image of Queen Elizabeth through such irreverently elegant gimmicks and it is this intelligent usage that makes the movie highly distinctive compared to other royal family films. Regarding this strength, The Queen also considered as a powerful one. It allows us to espy the total opposite side of what the English people think of Queen Elizabeth, the old-tradition lady with classic dignity and duties ahead of herself. Not many times that I've seen a great British film and this masterpiece from Stephen Frears is,without a doubt, considered to be one of those. One of The Savviest Films.… Expand

Mesmerizing potrait. Beautifully filmed, great script and charismatic performance by its two leads, Hellen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II and electrifying Michael Seen as Tony Blair.

Helen Mirren and James Cromwell bring flooring humanity to their respective roles as Queen Elizabeth II and Tony Blair. It also helps that the dialogue (to me the main draw of the movie aside from the acting) straddles a perfect line between dry wit and earnest fervor.

Hellen Mirren is stunning. I´ve never seen such a natural as well as deep interpretation, so delicate, balanced...just gorgeous.

Excellent on all levels. I enjoyed it, was amused and I was touched by all of the characters and not just The Queen. Everyone did a magnificent job with a very difficult subject.

Stephen Frears has caught much acclaim for his razor-sharp style of filming and his unwavering demand for his audience

This movie did a great job portraying the main events in the Diana tragedy. It has great acting and has both comedy and adds in the true problems that occurred. Overall it is very good.

A fine movie about different generations: the English queen who lived through the horrors of World War II v.s. the English Prime Minister who wasn't alive to experience the hell. Having had a mother who lived in London during the war, I could understand the stoic nature of the queen of England. Helen Mirren is absolutely fantastic in her portrayal of the queen. Michael Sheen isn';t far behind in his performance of Tony Blair. We know that the death of Princess Diana is the center point of this movie, but the real story is the generation gap between those who remember 1940-1945 and those who don't. Being calm under pressure v.s. running on the emotions of others. While the queen might have taken a beating, time has proven that she was probably correct. Stephen Frears really captures the sentiment of two different British generations, and the supporting cast is well suited for their roles. It was an excellent movie, and could serve one day as a fine history lesson.… Expand

Helen Mirren is much loved here in the UK and has done some superb work most notably as the lead in Prime Suspect, she surpasses everything however with her brilliant portrayal as the Queen. The remaining cast give great support but its Helen Mirren who completely steals the show, as you watch this film you actually forget that shes an actress and begin to view the film as a fly on the wall documentary with the actual Queen before you. Its because of this that I've given this a 10, HM is absolutely sensational.… Expand

Anyone who does not like this film cannot appreciate cinematography as the art it truly should be. The screenplay is beautiful. The acting is amazing. Everything happens for a reason. So what that nothing happens? Art isn't about entertainment. Art is about being honest and getting at some sort of truth. The Queen does this beautifully.

Brilliant emotional drama depicting the life behind the scenes and complex feelings of the English Queen and the royal family in the months following the death of princess Diana. Got Oscar.

Movies don't get much better than this. And this comes from a guy who isn't much interested in "The Monarchy" or its most popular ex-member, the late Princess Diana. One does need to bring to the viewing some curiosity about the "abnormal" psychology of "Royalty". All of the cast, working with a brilliant script, bring us plausible portrayals of people living out an ornate costume drama. It's a long-running show, with lifetime contracts for the players, and the question posed in this film is what the on-stage cast should do when an unscripted event intrudes on the set. The audience might applaud the poise of actors who carry on "regardless". Or they might be appalled when the old pros step around the real body that has plopped onto the set.… Expand

Fascinating. Stephen Frears and Helen Mirren deliver yet again. Michael Sheen is probably a better Tony Blair than Tony Blair.

The acting was brilliant. Anyone who is interested in the monarchy or was saddened by Diana's death will love this movie.

Some viewers of "The Queen" will heed Tracy Ullman's outcry and nod in agreement about those stubborn royals needing to defrost their collective upper lips and pay their respects to "the people's princess"; while the rest of us will take stock that Ullman's televised soapbox is beaming from Hollywood, California. The filmmaker used Ullman because her attitude is indicative of an environment and industry, which encourages its denizens to display emotion, to cry on cue when the cameras are rolling. In my opinion, we're supposed to make the connection between this expatriate and the British people who queued up in front of Buckingham Palace with their bouquets and tear-streaked faces. This public display of grief is put on by people who seek the limelight, the film seems to be implying, just like those Hollywood notables who attended Princess Di's funeral. In a style befitting the late land-mine crusader's memory, well-wishers who wanted to truly honor Diana Spencer's memory, quite ironically, should've enacted the queen's way, the prudent way; which was to mourn in private, so as not to give the media something to shoot; the media who eventually killed her. "The Queen" is clearly on her majesty's side. In a crafty move on the filmmaker's part, we never get a reaction shot from the queen when she receives news of both, Princess Di's accident and death. It's uncertain who HRH Elizabeth II(Helen Mirren) is crying for as she waits for vehicular assistance in that riverbank, but at least the flowing water she temporarily rules over, like her tears, are real; they're private tears, unlike the crocodile tears shed by the media whores who purportedly cared about the late Princess Diana, a person they never even met.… Expand

If you had told me two years ago that the tragic death of Princess Diana, of all things, would provide the fulcrum for one of the smartest, sharpest, wittiest and most enjoyable comedies of manners in ages, my immediate and understandable response would've been to suggest that you either work less, rest more...or get started on that 12-step program immediately! But then I seriously underestimated Peter Morgan and Stephen Frears. They've crafted a superbly perceptive, immensely wise two-character study that, even if you have no interest whatsoever in any of the British royals, and snapped the radio dial over to the nearest alternative-rock station anytime that Elton John song came on, still has plenty to engage you on many levels. Put it this way: if you've ever, for reasons of workplace politics, expediency or just being in the minority to put through a policy that you personally disliked or disapproved of, then Queen Elizabeth's story is your story, too. Her preference here is to offer no official statement of grief or mourning after that car accident takes the life of "The People's Princess", but nationwide (and worldwide) public and media pressure overwhelmingly indicates the wisdom of compromise, and it's up to newly minted Prime Minister Tony Blair to try to resolve things. (When Elizabeth reminds Blair of all the Prime Ministers who've served under her, including that legendary tough old bird Winston Churchill, she might as well be telling him, "I eat Prime Ministers for breakfast," but as we'll soon see, the new guy is too smart and tenacious to be anybody's blue plate special.) The Academy Award ceremonies are shaping up to be more like Helen Mirren's coronation, and that's fine: the beauty of her portrayal is that while we understand and connect with her character's stubbornness on a human level, Mirren keeps Elizabeth's precise reasoning for not wanting to make too big a fuss over Princess Di (whether because she believes that to do so would demean the dignity of her office, sort of like the White House acknowledging Anna Nicole Smith, or because of her resentment of Diana having thrown everything back in her face, or because Elizabeth just plain doesn't like her) deeply locked within her heart; Mirren understands that no human being can COMPLETELY understand why another chooses to act a certain way. Unfortunately, Oscar didn't see fit to honor Michael Sheen with an equally richly deserved Best Supporting Actor nomination as Blair--a real missed opportunity because his warm, subtle and thoughtful portrayal is the perfect counterpart to Mirren. Blair's call for flexibility may have won the day, but in one of 2006's most stunning and unforgettable movie moments, Elizabeth prophetically warns him of the capriciousness of public approval, and that it can be yanked away from him suddenly and without warning at any time. The audible gasp that many members of my audience simultaneously uttered indicates that Morgan and Frears are as sharply attuned to the sad political realities of today as they are to those of 1997.… Expand

A sterling character portrayal of Elizabeth II by Helen Mirren, who is certainly a lock for the Best Actress Oscar.

A well made movie, albeit fiction because we don't know the actual dialogue between the real characters. A little slow in the beginning but held our attention through the end. Excellent acting and filming. The contrast in personalities between Blair and the Queen was remarkable. Well worth the $10 to see it.

Super film (a Brit)

For those only desiring exposure to the factual events following Diana's death, this is an outstanding movie and a monumental opportunity missed regarding human nature. Helen Mirren doesn't just act as the queen, she becomes the queen incarnate. Her performance should earn her an Oscar. Her character represents what happens to all of us over time. The values instilled in the formative years of life become so institutionalized they define who we are and dictate how we feel, or in this case, deny our emotions. Stephen Frears unveils over a week in the life of the monarchy a queen who feels far more deeply than her subjects can imagine. Mirren portrays the Queen as she is: a complex woman who is not easily pigeonholed. The viewer cannot determine if she feels the pain of Britain's grief over the loss of Diana, or the pain of rejection by her people. Frears powerfully employs a single moment in the wild to expose a queen who desperately wants to feel alive; yet it is obvious she feels emotionally disconnected, dead. Frears' use of imagery throughout the movie if profound; but especially in the events folllowing that moment in the wild,: the head of the nation has become disconnected. James Cromwell embodies that dispassionate death, spewing his narcissistic view of the world like a spitting cobra. Michael Sheen as Prime Minister Blair does an adequate job but is forced into the shadows by Mirren's performance. Still, Fears allows the natural course of events to set up a dramatic, and at times humorous contrast of Blair and the Queen. As the monarchy to which she has devoted her life suddenly reveals its impotence when faced with the raw emotion of grief, thus leaving the Queen confused and unprotected behind the walls of Balmoral and Buckingham Palace, Blair who began the week as the victorious progressive begins to deeply appreciate the value of Britain's history and tradition. Frears has given us a movie that reminds us that we need tradition, to know from where we've come; but, never to the point that the tradition becomes and end unto itself. The monarchy and its tradition is to serve her people especially in moments of pain and uncertainty. Therefore, Diana's death to Frears was not without meaning. It became the instrument through which England's two most powerful leaders discovered that truth.… Expand

A masterpiece in my opinion. I went into this film with little to no expectations except for the acclaim and reviews I read that the film had been getting. But by the end of the movie I was astonished at how brilliant it was. Stephen Frears more than deserved his Oscar nom for the movie and I am very happy he was nominated. From a directorial standpoint, it was incredibly filmed and realized. Mirren's acting is like a masterclass in and of itself (the only female perf. I saw all year that matched its complexity was Judi Dench in Notes on a Scandal) and Michael Sheen as Tony Blair also deserved a nomination as well. It is well known that British cinema had a fantastic year in 2006 and The Queen is first-rate evidence of that.… Expand

Outstanding film. The score is dead on. I love the portrayal of Tony Blair - if true, it restores my faith in liberal thought. And damn, Helen Mirren is hot!!

Simply marvelous old bean. One couldn't do better oneself.

This was an engrossing, close and believably accurate examination of the of the royal family and its atavistic influence on the government of the UK. It brings off the "you are there" feel, and the performances by the entire cast are brilliant. The only bit that reminded me that I was not watching the real thing was the too dark hair color of the Tony Blair character. I got over it.

Nearly perfect. Frears uses Blair to take the audience on a journey he clearly wants us to take, from questioning the need of the monarchy to recognizing its place in the world. Humane and complex, yet wholly accessible, it's the best film of the year.

Why is this movie so captivating and enchanting? Admittedly, the plot concept is simple, perhaps even banal -- but simplicity here is a virtue because it showcases Mirren's remarkable portrayal of QEII. The real strength of this film, however, is its depiction of candid, almost voyeuristic, moments plausibly inferred from external events that are timelessly seared into our psyches -- all the more so because of the Queen's extreme penchant for personal privacy. The sympathetic characters validate this as a film that is both voyeuristic and friendly to its subjects, a combination we see infrequently in literature and film. There is, in the end, an uplifting outcome, though some inevitable sadness at the extent to which Princess Elizabeth whose engagement with the suffering of the British people during WWII made her a populist monarch in the early years of her reign had grown out-of-touch with modern public sentiment and the power of modern media -- mastery that Princess Di had represented up til her death.… Expand

The nuanced performance of Mirren was thoroughly entertaining and captivating. I would recommend this film to all!!

This film is fantastic because the acting is brilliant and it gives the public an insight to the royal family that we've actually never seen before. Whether or not it's a sincere portrayal of what actually happened during those days or not is a question for the ages. But as a motion picture (what this is, not a piece of political propaganda) it was wonderfully acted and the story was well told. Helen Mirren is an amazing and gifted actress. She takes on the role of Queen Elizabeth II and flies with it.… Expand

All hail 'The Queen'! Mirren gives an eerily accurate portrayal of Elizabeth, Queen of England. For the SECOND time this year! Well-directed by Frears.

An excellent film - Helen Mirren and Michael Sheen are both tremendous as the Queen and Tony Blair, respectively. The supporting cast is also outstanding, including the film clips of Princess Diana. If you like violence and car chases and the other crap that drives movie production these days, you won't enjoy it, but if you like acting and character development, this film is for you.

Helen Mirren gave a powerfully nuanced impression of a living institution and historic personality. Michael Sheen is delightful as the twitchy and adoring new prime minister. It's easier to see how he could have become "Bush's poodle" in starting the Iraq invasion. I didn't expect the story to be so gripping that I forgot about the time.

This movie is brilliant. Helen Mirren - well, words fail. Intelligent, thoughtful people the world over will love it. Obtuse and dull people will not enjoy it. The point is as much about the shift in values from the time of the "greatest generation" of which ER is a member, to the Oprah generation in which we are all now living. Stephen Frears is a genius.

It's a very good look at the queen's life surrounding Dianna's death.

Wow! I did not anticipate the power of this movie. Helen Mirren was incredible, but the overall impact was also stunninmg. One of the best movies of the decade.

In a world full of people taking sides, this movie successfully allowed me to understand and care about opposite minded characters. Subtle and rich performance by Mirren. Best movie I have seen in years.

Biopics usually suck the life out of the corpse. In this case, Helen Mirren, the cast, and the production reinvigorate and reinterpret contemporary events with power. Queen presents a kind of kinetic portraiture--of a person, her people, and an extraordinary time.

AMAZING! Mirren deserves the Oscar.

I confess that I went to see this movie primarily to watch Helen Mirren, who may well be the greatest actress alive. However, I was surprised (and delighted) to find the film itself is both riveting and very entertaining.

Excellent movie. Academy award worthy, both film and star Helen Mirren, as well as cinematography and costumes.

Helen Mirren is the queen of subtlety. The dammed-up emotion spilled out of her eyes and her body language. I was amazed at how she threw her whole self into every inch of her portrayal. Who is to say whether or not her pomp and circumstance ways are wrong in this shallow, celebrity driven society?

The movie is very sympathetic towards Queen Elizabeth, probably much more than she deserves, but it is utterly captivating and, I agree with the critics, funny in unexpected ways. Helen Mirren deserves an Oscar for her performance.

Remarkable performances. Genius of a script.

Thoughtful, fascinating film which takes its sweet time. Mirren's Elizabeth is touching and much more complex than much of the media would have us believe.

One of the best ever.

After 5 minutes, Helen Mirren had me convinced I was watching Queen Elizabeth herself. Great performance by the Tony Blair actor too!

Helen Mirren and Michael Sheen lead a perfect cast and the film was made with so much loving attention to detail that I was rapt from beginning to end. Stunning!

The viewer ratings here seem to be either 0 or 10... see this movie and decide for yourself. I feel Helen Mirren should have the Oscar. It's quite a performance. The movie is well written and Frears has done a teriffic job.

This was an absolutely fabulous film; a piece of art. Hellen Mirren, and the rest of the cast were incredible.

Just a wonderful film and a touching view of the Queen, albeit a less than flattering portrait of Philip. Is he really such as ass?

Fantastic acting and fascinating exploration of the clash of modernity and tradition....

Oustanding! They make the Royal family seem as they actually are...real and feeling! Very Good!

It's a totally new mix of docu-drama with superb acting by everyone involved. This is a very daring film to make with the Queen still alive, which I greatly admire.

Excellent film. Mirren is great. Sheen? is great as Tony Blair. Insightful and enjoyable.

This is the most important film so far this year. It brings back the great sadness of the death of Princess Diana in such a powerful way. I remember the day the Princess of Wales died in that terrible car accident, I was young but it is a moment in time that will stick with you for life. Such emotion came over England... and the world. She was a princess to the people and when she was gone, the people suffered greatly. This movie shows what happened during the days of England's mourning inside Buckingham Palace. HM Queen Elizabeth II is a very interesting character and I was shocked to see how she behaves behind the scenes. She is an elegant, tasteful and powerful woman and Helen Mirren not only physically took on this character, but emotionally as well. Mirren became The Queen and gave an amazing performance that cries out for an Oscar. This film is definitely a great one and has Oscar written all over it. It has generated a ton of buzz, mostly over Mirren's stunning performance, and I could even very well see this film being nominated for Best Picture. Such an emotional film (emotional in a good way) that shows the true side of the Royal Family and the near-defeat of the Monarchy. Go see this movie, it's now playing in theatres.… Expand

Some of the comments on here really crack me up! "Weirdly boring"!? "Too much dialogue"? Huh? If you don't like dialogue, why not go watch one of the brainless Hollywood blockbusters? In any case, Helen Mirren was absolutely fantastic, almost a dead ringer for the Queen from voice to facial expressions. And yes, she is a shoe-in for an Oscar nomination. One thing the film showed me was that the Queen was not the monster made out to be during the Diana incident. She simply did what she thought was right, but in the end realized she was wrong.… Expand

Great Helen Mirren, great cast, great movie, my favorite of all time.

Brilliant

This is one of the best films I have ever seen. The acting is magnificent. There are going to be some Academy Awards here. Do not miss it.

Incredibly interesting look at a world event from behind the scenes. Presents complex public characters in ways the public never sees them. Terrific entertainment, would like to see this format for explaining other world events.

Brilliant! Helen Mirren delivers an outstanding performance.

A tour de force for Mirren. Performance of any year. Brisk dialogue. Witty. Great behind the scenes look at the Royals and 10 Downing Street.

This movie was awesome.

This a royal Pains
that's how the British monarchy survived the death of the people's princess, i think that The Queen, which opens the New York Film Festival on Friday and goes into release the next day, is more fun than any movie about the violent death of a 36-year-old woman has a right to be. It's also as exotic an English-language picture as the season is likely to bring.