Seen: May 4th, 2007
Format: Blu-Ray
Rating: 8
I like films that educate me. I prefer learning something new at every chance I get. Film can educate in several different ways. Some of the best films take an area that you know little about and expand it for you, showing you things that you never considered. Not just nuances, but insight into realms of which you weren't just unaware, but of which you would never have thought to enquire.
They expose your ignorance.
I can't understand the British monarchy. Not because I've tried and failed, but because I truly believe that there's a historical and cultural imperative to which I've not been exposed for my entire life. I'm simply not capable. This seems to be the subject matter of The Queen.
While set during the period of the Diana's death and the election of Blair, the film is not really about these events. Instead, it uses them as foils to show the monarchy, the family royal, and their relationship to their subjects. Not individual relationships, though those are covered and interesting, but the relationship between those of royal status, and the body comprising the rest of British civilization.
What amazes me about this film is its unjudging objectivity. There can be little doubt that the Queen and her family made errors in judgement during and following these events. The easy route would have been to expose and chastise them for their mistakes. Instead, the film shows who the Queen is, who her family is. We learn the driving reasons behind the why of these decisions. We learn that they were not made from carelessness and thoughtlessness, that there were not vindictive.
In this exposition, we learn a little about her, and her family. We are shown glimpses of what it means to be Queen, and what it means to be one of her advisers, her Prime Minister, one of her staff, one of her subjects. Being shown this withy objectivity allows us to begin to begin to understand the complexities of all these relationships. It serves as an abject lesson how human it is to assume or judge, and how much more humane to learn, understand and forgive.
The performances here are excellent. Mirren in particular is outstanding. Long a fan of hers, in my opinion this performance cements her place as one of the preeminent actresses of her generation. The way she becomes the Queen is stunning.
Michael Sheen does an excellent job as well. His performance is the keystone on which our education rests. He treads the line between personality and caricature exceptionally well here.
The script itself is very well done. Frear's directorial choices are superb. I've enjoyed his work in the past, but the subtly he shows here shows a whole new dimension.
See this film. Keep an open mind and pay attention, as the real story here lies much deeper than the story being told.
The Good: Mirren's performance
The Bad: Disconnection
The Ugly: The ultimate cost of celebrity
No comments:
Post a Comment