It's a movie kind of day so I went to see "The Queen." Certainly, the Oscar buzz surrounding this film was a strong lure, but even more compelling were the facts that Helen Mirren was the star of this production and Stephen Frears was the director. It did not disappoint.
From the first time I saw Helen Mirren in "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife And Her Lover," I believed she could walk on water. Her role as Jane Tennyson in the "Prime Suspect" series cemented it for me. Her ability to convey absolute turmoil, guilt and pain while keeping her face utterly rigid is an acting gift unparalleled. Witness her performances in "Gosford Park" and "The Madness of King George." And if you wish to see acting on a level that is heartbreaking and breathtaking, go to the video store and find the television version of "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone" from 2003. That performance was devastating and brilliant. As you can see, I am a fan.
I am also a fan of Stephen Frears' work. With few exceptions, I find his work deeply satisfying. I became a convert with "Prick Up Your Ears," an biographical retelling of the life of the English playwright Joe Orton (he of "Entertaining Mr. Sloane and "Loot" fame). The film captures Orton's rise and fall, including his bloody demise at the hand of his lover, Ken Halliwell. The excellent actors Gary Oldman and Alfred Molina starred, both fairly new to film at the time. It's a thrilling and disturbing film and it set the stage for Frears work to come. "Dangerous Liaisons" is an opulent feast; "The Grifters" is unsettling genius; "High Fidelity" is one of the movies that is makes you feel every ounce of John Cusak's restless discomfort. Frears' ability to capture unpleasant conflict and place his characters squarely in the center is a fascination to watch unfold.
"The Queen" is no exception. It would be very easy to imagine Queen ELizabeth as a villain in the wake of the whole brouhaha that erupted after the death of Diana, the Princess of Wales. But this film is rather sympathetic to the Queen and clarifies why she reacted as she did. It makes sense--the Queen understands only her duty (which has been instilled in her since childhood) and seems puzzled and disturbed by the public and media derision. Mirren plays this role so sharply and with such pathos behind her eyes under a rigid, cool exterior. If she doesn't win an Oscar for this film, I will scratch my head with wonder.
See it.
Greens Gotta Be Spicy
- Chicken And Waffles
- Summit, NJ, NJ, United States
- Well, I'm Damn Fascinating.
2 comments:
I agree that the film is brilliant in every way, save one. The Queen's reaction to Diana's death surely covered a range of ambivalent feelings, and was not limited to her cold insistence on protocol, as suggested by the film.
Charles tells his mother, "The Diana we knew was very different than the Diana idolized by the public", but this truth is never developed in the film. I'll mention it here.
While the "people's princess" remains the icon of superficial popular culture, the Royals knew a very different, darker character behind the facades of glamour and pseudo-compassion.
Both Diana and her brother, Charles Spencer, suffered from Borderline Personality Disorder caused by their mother's abandoning them as young children. A google search reveals that Diana is considered a case study in BPD by mental health professionals.
For Charles Spencer, BPD meant insatiable sexual promiscuity (his wife was divorcing him at the time of Diana's death). For Diana, BPD meant intense insecurity and insatiable need for attention and affection which even the best husband could never fulfill.
Clinically, it's clear that the Royal family did not cause her "problems". Rather, Diana brought her multiple issues into the marriage, and the Royal family was hapless to deal with them.
Her illness, untreated, sowed the seeds of her fast and unstable lifestyle, and sadly, her tragic fate.
Superb and fascinating observations, redtown. Thank you for these points which I think shed a new dimension on the film (esp the point where Charles eludes to Diana's real life personality). I always suspected a mental imbalance in her character and personally felt her blatant manipulation of the media was indeed calculated. I appreciate your insightful comments.
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