The Queen (DVD, 2007)

Before I even discuss "The Queen", I have to say what a wonderful performance by Helen Mirren. She actually becomes Queen Elizabeth II and we believe it is really her in the movie. She really deserved her Oscar.

But now to the surprises in the movie. Although Queen Elizabeth took a beating when Princess Diana died, we learn that it wasn't all caused by the rift between the two women. It is true that the Queen did not like Diana because Diana talked to the press many times about her problems with Charles, her husband. But we learn further that Queen Elizabeth is so wrapped up in the tradition of the monarchy that she feels that she has to remain dignified
and aloof throughout the ordeal, even saying many times that Diana was no longer part of the Royal Family and that the funeral service should be a private Spencer happening.

Other surprises: (1) We see the Queen actually driving an SUV type vehicle over Scotland's backroads. WOW, I could never picture that. (2) We see Charles in a different light in the fact that he was sympathetic to Diana and wanted to do the right thing for her funeral, which was to have a big, lavish, formal celebration of her life. He must not have been completely wrapped up with Camilla. (3) We see the Queen show lots of emotion toward the killing of a magnificent stag while showing little emotion toward Diana. We see her surrounded by dogs that she commands to stay back and they mind her. She must be a true animal lover. (4) We see the Queen's sitting room, bedroom and other rooms in their Scotland quarters (Balmoral), which wasn't that lavish a deal. (5) We see the Queen actually serving a picnic meal without help. (6) And finally, we see a very young Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) trying to deal with a fastidious not-so-old queen, who revels in all of the formalities of her position.

I don't mind giving these parts of the movie away, because I know that you will want to see this movie and visualize it for yourself. It is well worth the experience. More than anything, this movie shows that Royals do have a human side, that they actually do things that ordinary people do and do it without being waited on constantly, and finally that beneath all of that formality there is just a family with problems like ordinary people have.