Reviews

Saw The Queen Sunday matinée -- theater was pretty full and they were running it on two screens at the only venue currently showing it... thought Mirren did her usual superb job -- very subdued and uses her body language to great effect---she is such a dynamic personality--very turn about to see her so strait-laced.... thought James Cromwell had done a 180 from the lovable farmer of Babe---If this characterization is accurate, Prince Phillip would be the first royal I would want to see toppled--he has less blue blood in his veins than any person in his family and certainly less noblesse oblige--and it really showed him as petulant and so self-centered The Queen Mother Elizabeth obviously had great influence on the Queen--for the negative in this case--and I think that will surprise more British viewers than Americans--she was one of the Royals that most Brits gave positive rating to---at least from what I know..

I was very interested to see how average Tony Blair's life really is--imagine George Bush eating fish fingers sitting in the kitchen with his family after he has won the election--Blair obviously has lost his capacity to keep in touch with the public which was one of the Queen's parting shots...he was right to balance his perception about her reaction to Diana's death and the need for a more supportive response---now he apparently is out of the loop with how his people are reacting to Britian's participation and support for the war in Iraq---do you think George Bush gets such spot-on advice from his wife....

Sad that never once saw her actually offer comfort to her grandsons---apparently Charles is more forthcoming with that and has made sure the boys don't have the same spare, Spartan upbringing he had--

Think Mirren will surely get nomination for Oscar--but don't know that she will win---the part allows for only such a nuanced performance--the two scenes involving the stag allow for more insight and the scene where she and Cromwell are talking about Charles and Diana and how Charles "kept" the other woman and failed to manage Diana is priceless and reams have been written about what has happened between Elizabeth and Phillip in and out of the bedroom---yet that scene is about 10 or 20 seconds said as much and so well---really good script--and the recreation scenes were blended nicely with the actual footage of the times---had really forgotten the magnitude of the flowers left at the palaces and the true grief of the mourners....

I guess the real question is --- will Diana's death top the Queen's in the hearts of the Brits--think that was lot of what was going on w/The Queen....and I think Diana will win out for heartfelt grief-- Think I would like to watch it again to catch other subtle flavors---

This movie has faults--don't they all. Have found it very helpful in teaching a variety of concepts to sophomore and junior English students. The scenes showing Lily and her family forced out of their homes by Americans, marching to the train station in total silence except for their haunting, now-forbidden Japanese music are always received with great concentration and silence by my classes--a high tribute to Mr. Parker's ability to let a picture speak for itself. Come to the Paradise offers a refreshingly different viewpoint of a critical point in American history for those of us who prefer a little something to chew on besides popcorn at the movies.