Whoops, wrong movie!
The Story:
In 1997, Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) is elected Prime Minister of England in a landslide victory. Queen Elizabeth (Helen Mirren) welcomes him to the position, and then the unthinkable happens... Princess Diana is killed in an auto accident. This movie is basically a recreation of that turbulent week in the life of the Royal Family.
This is an interesting look at the lives of the monarchy, and what and how they lived their lives up until that moment.
As Diana was no longer a member of the Royal Family, she wasn't entitled to... well, anything. Protocol procedures were set in place, and that's just the way things are.
Naturally, the British people (and the world) loved Diana, and they began to grow bitter with the Royals and the perceived lack of caring and sympathy on their part.
Blair actually gained more respect as he was the only official that seemed to even acknowledge what Diana meant to the people. He tries to persuade the Queen to make a public display, but she refuses and continues to follow protocol.
Naturally, it's the worst week of the Queen's life.
: /
Mirren does a bang up job as the Queen, but that's to be expected.
This is a good movie, however I don't believe that it was a great one. All of the accolades it received... well, okay, I don't see it, but that's fine. Somehow with the passing years and they hype and Academy Awards that surrounded it, I was expecting something... more.
It wasn't bad, by any stretch of the imagination. Like I said, it wasn't a great movie, it's basically a character study of the stoicism of the Queen.
Final Grade: B-
Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Glad I saw it, but once was good enough.
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