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ink_splotchSo, because I haven't been to the movies in ages, I went to see The Queen with Cathrine today in the Leicester Odeon, which was great fun; we Time-Warped at the bus stop. It was quite, quite awesome. Cathrine has a startlingly high-tolerance for my weirdness and let's me sing, dance and *glee* all over the place. It's quite, quite wonderful - she's great fun.
But that is neither here nor there - the point is the movie.
Oh God. Helen Mirren, you *wonder*.
The Queen, in short, is a close look at Queen Elizabeth II and Tony Blair during that week in '97; the week of Diana's death.
No, don't run away yet. It's only going to get weirder.
It stars Helen Mirren as Elizabeth and Micheal Sheen as Tony Blair and the film rises and falls with them. They somehow manage to get behind two public person for whom I have no real fond feelings and make me *love* them. The way they both react to the death; the way they manage to convey *changing*. Blair starts off as a rather nervous, but also rather dismissive politician - in his first meeting with the Queen, he and Cherié act like giggling school-children both on the way in and out, while Tony still is completely overwhelmed by the monarch (and who wouldn't be overwhelmed by a woman whose met Churchill and every one of your predessecors following Churchill); by the end, he is confident and - one wants to say - converted. He seems so *human* though; quite a few of the scenes with him take place in his home, with him wandering around in PJs (so cute. Micheal Sheen is *adorable*, but it feels vaguely wrong to be describing Tony Blair as cute).
Then there's Helen Mirren's stoic and desperately lonely Elizabeth, a snarky, witty, hurting and human woman caught between a modern world and an archaic institution. She starts off strong, confident and almost insolently secure in her knowledge of her role in life. All that is, of course, broken when the public turns against her following Diana's death. Mirren is pitch-perfect in her pain and frustration; every single emotion is subtly written on her face as she slowly concedes to Blair's new world. Helen Mirren *owns* every damn moment of the film, even if she isn't on camera and I couldn't help but adore the Queen. There's this one quite wonderful scene where the Queen's jeep breaks down in the middle of the river; she just so *practical* in her way of dealing that it brings it home quite powerfully that she is a human being - and an extraordinary one, at that.
The other characters - ah, here's where the comedy comes in. Every other character in the movie manages to be vaguely unlikable, though in rather amusing ways. From Alistair Campell to Prince Charles, they all manage to seem scheming and cold, looking out for themselves. Prince Phillip - what a card - manages to be brash and insulting and amusing in his uselessness; the Queen Mother is old-fashioned, completely out of touch; Prince Charles is egotistical and bitchy. Cherié Blair doesn't fare too well either; she seems somehow superficial and mostly seems to exist to provide pairing fodder and oedipal-ish hints. Which is too bad, really; she is adorable and giddy in the beginning and she and Tony seemed quite lovely. And then Diana died.
The perhaps *oddest* thing about the movie was the chemistry between Mirren and Sheen - it was almost, uhm, romantic. There was something so *adoring* about Tony Blair, and something almost, well, fond about the very last scene the two of them had together. I came out of the theatre humming My Love Will Not Let You Down.
In essence, it is *British* through and through, and it is all the more glorious for it. Go see it! And support my odd pairings!
This compares the movie to a West Wing episode; a rather apt comparison. I wish Micheal Sheen was my PM.
Oh, and did I mention the Bill Clinton clip? Oh, Bill!
Also, TORCHWOOD trailer before the movie! Oh, be still my heart. How cool does that show look? Doctor Who meets Criminal Minds and all lead by Capt'n Jack Harkness. Oh yes please. I went to see Rocky Horror Show Friday (and it was amazing - I even got up and time-warped)and Rocky looked like a bleached John Barrowman, which set off Doctor Who pangs - and all this was made worse by the fact that I invested in Hey Mr. Producer which also stars Barrowman (and his, uh, hips).
Though he is upstaged by JULIE ANDREWS who shouldn't be as hot as she is; Bernadette Peters, glorious as always; Stephen Sondeheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber; Judi Dench, who can *sing*; and the wonderful, the hilarious, the *brilliant* Tom Lehrer, singing Poisoning Pigeons in the Park. I'm quite overcome with glee.
A short RL update: am sick, am slightly stressed, am poor, am at times homesick and lonely, but am overall happy and pleased with life.
But that is neither here nor there - the point is the movie.
Oh God. Helen Mirren, you *wonder*.
The Queen, in short, is a close look at Queen Elizabeth II and Tony Blair during that week in '97; the week of Diana's death.
No, don't run away yet. It's only going to get weirder.
It stars Helen Mirren as Elizabeth and Micheal Sheen as Tony Blair and the film rises and falls with them. They somehow manage to get behind two public person for whom I have no real fond feelings and make me *love* them. The way they both react to the death; the way they manage to convey *changing*. Blair starts off as a rather nervous, but also rather dismissive politician - in his first meeting with the Queen, he and Cherié act like giggling school-children both on the way in and out, while Tony still is completely overwhelmed by the monarch (and who wouldn't be overwhelmed by a woman whose met Churchill and every one of your predessecors following Churchill); by the end, he is confident and - one wants to say - converted. He seems so *human* though; quite a few of the scenes with him take place in his home, with him wandering around in PJs (so cute. Micheal Sheen is *adorable*, but it feels vaguely wrong to be describing Tony Blair as cute).
Then there's Helen Mirren's stoic and desperately lonely Elizabeth, a snarky, witty, hurting and human woman caught between a modern world and an archaic institution. She starts off strong, confident and almost insolently secure in her knowledge of her role in life. All that is, of course, broken when the public turns against her following Diana's death. Mirren is pitch-perfect in her pain and frustration; every single emotion is subtly written on her face as she slowly concedes to Blair's new world. Helen Mirren *owns* every damn moment of the film, even if she isn't on camera and I couldn't help but adore the Queen. There's this one quite wonderful scene where the Queen's jeep breaks down in the middle of the river; she just so *practical* in her way of dealing that it brings it home quite powerfully that she is a human being - and an extraordinary one, at that.
The other characters - ah, here's where the comedy comes in. Every other character in the movie manages to be vaguely unlikable, though in rather amusing ways. From Alistair Campell to Prince Charles, they all manage to seem scheming and cold, looking out for themselves. Prince Phillip - what a card - manages to be brash and insulting and amusing in his uselessness; the Queen Mother is old-fashioned, completely out of touch; Prince Charles is egotistical and bitchy. Cherié Blair doesn't fare too well either; she seems somehow superficial and mostly seems to exist to provide pairing fodder and oedipal-ish hints. Which is too bad, really; she is adorable and giddy in the beginning and she and Tony seemed quite lovely. And then Diana died.
The perhaps *oddest* thing about the movie was the chemistry between Mirren and Sheen - it was almost, uhm, romantic. There was something so *adoring* about Tony Blair, and something almost, well, fond about the very last scene the two of them had together. I came out of the theatre humming My Love Will Not Let You Down.
In essence, it is *British* through and through, and it is all the more glorious for it. Go see it! And support my odd pairings!
This compares the movie to a West Wing episode; a rather apt comparison. I wish Micheal Sheen was my PM.
Oh, and did I mention the Bill Clinton clip? Oh, Bill!
Also, TORCHWOOD trailer before the movie! Oh, be still my heart. How cool does that show look? Doctor Who meets Criminal Minds and all lead by Capt'n Jack Harkness. Oh yes please. I went to see Rocky Horror Show Friday (and it was amazing - I even got up and time-warped)and Rocky looked like a bleached John Barrowman, which set off Doctor Who pangs - and all this was made worse by the fact that I invested in Hey Mr. Producer which also stars Barrowman (and his, uh, hips).
Though he is upstaged by JULIE ANDREWS who shouldn't be as hot as she is; Bernadette Peters, glorious as always; Stephen Sondeheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber; Judi Dench, who can *sing*; and the wonderful, the hilarious, the *brilliant* Tom Lehrer, singing Poisoning Pigeons in the Park. I'm quite overcome with glee.
A short RL update: am sick, am slightly stressed, am poor, am at times homesick and lonely, but am overall happy and pleased with life.
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"Poisoning pigeons in the park" was the first Tom Lehrer song I heard...
Date: 2006-10-15 07:55 am (UTC)That movie sounds great; I hope it comes to Denmark. Otherwise I could maybe get my brother to dl for me. Hmmm.
TORCHWOOD! Do you know when the pilot airs? I've been going mad waiting for Captain Jack Harkness (how many cheerfully bisexual characters are there in television, huh? Not a whole damn lot. Harkness = teh win). Heee. John Barrowman's hips. That's something I'm gonna want to see when I get there. *grins* Probably several times.
Oh, honey, I don't want you to be lonely. *hugs you* If there's anything I can do, you know that.
Mine was smut; it's oddly apt, no?
Date: 2006-10-15 10:26 am (UTC)The movie is amazing; it should be *boring*, you know? But I was entertained for every damn second.
And I kind of miss the belief people had in Labour back in the day. It suddenly gave me flashbacks to the *optimisim* and faith people had in Blair back then. Can't believe it's almost ten years ago (damn - I'm getting old...)
22 of October, baby! I'm taking over the TV room on that day, I don't care. I will watch Torchwood, dammit.
And I thought as much - also, in the end credits, he's right next to Tom Lehrer. It's oddly squee-worthy.
Thank you *hugs*. I'll remind you of that offer when I call you up in the middle of the night 'cause I'm homesick.
Seriously, though. Thank you *hugs*
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-15 03:32 pm (UTC)Your description of the film makes me flail with nerdy joy, however, and I am glad you are generally happy. *hug*
(Your moodicon for content is the same as mine for 'loved' - Wilby Wonderful is the best.)
(no subject)
Date: 2006-10-17 06:10 pm (UTC)It is a glee-making film. And thank you.
(Wilby Wonderful makes me SO damn happy.)