The Queen
by Stephen Frears
List Price:
Our Price: $10.99
You Save: $4.00 (27%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $1.00 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Alex Jennings, Helen Mirren, James Cromwell, Michael Sheen, Sylvia SymsDirector: Stephen Frears
Brand: Buena Vista Home Video
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; English (Subtitled)
Format: Color, Dolby, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 103 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-04-24
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Miramax
Movie Reviews of The Queen
Movie Review: Great acting, Great Writing. Great movie. Terrible director
Summary: 5 Stars
The movie was excellent... even for those of us who did not care for the way the Royal family treated Princess Di. Helen Mirren gave an Oscar winning, tasteful, believable performance. I also think the part of Philip was right on the nose. His malice and narrow minded, out of touch arrogance was perfectly portrayed in this movie. It was nice to see that his personality was not soft-soaped.
The writing and portrayal of Tony Blair was very compelling. It seemed like most of the movie was angled from either his point of view or that of his advisers. The only problem I had with the acting on Blair's character was that the acting was a bit overdone like he was some wide eyed kid on his very first solo visit to a candy store.
The hair wasn't quite right on Blair or Charles. It would have helped the feel of the movie if the hairdressers and makeup had done as good a job on them as they did on Helen Mirren for the role of the Queen. It would not have required much effort to comb their hair more like the persons they were portraying.
The writers did well on all characters except Prince Charles. They didn't give the actor much to work with on lines. The writing fell flat on that character... even for Charles who's already a flat personality to begin with.
Otherwise, it was a superb job of acting and writing.
However, the director, Stephen Frears is an unkempt, ill-mannered, lowbrow slob in serious need of lessons in hygiene. He looks like some boozer from skid row. From his disheveled appearance, attitude, commentary and lack of personal hygiene, it is obvious that the actors and the writing team were the ones who made this movie so successful... not the director.
It amazes me that anyone would hire this director, much less pay him a salary. All you need to do is watch the bonus material to see and hear what a swine this man is (on or off the set)... not to mention his bad manners, bad on-camera etiquette and slovenly appearance to go with his tasteless attitude. He didn't even have the decency to clean up for the DVD interview. On top of that he was frequently scratching and messing with his hair and face while on camera. He is the closest match to a human version of Homer Simpson I have ever seen. He spoke of someone looking like a clown... he should have looked in the mirror.
Another person who had no business working on this particular film was Alan MacDonald, the production designer. He had the unmitigated audacity to declare on the bonus material interview, that the 4 billion people worldwide who were mourning Diana were all hysterical. He said it with such utter disdain and condescending attitude toward the billions of people... it was wholly offensive.
Apparently, math and human compassion are not his forte... otherwise he would have realized that the person with the psychological shortcomings was himself... not the rest of the world. He made no contribution to this film that could not have been better done by any other production designer. Frankly, I would think twice about buying any future movie which either of these men are associated with. Their very presence spoils anything they are associated with. They would both be more at home in the low end of the adult film industry.
But don't let that dissuade you on the film. The acting and writing more than made up for the shortcomings of the director and production designer.
Summary of The Queen
Winner of the Academy Award? for Best Actress, Dame Helen Mirren gives a spellbinding performance in THE QUEEN, the provocative story behind one of the most public tragedies of our time - the sudden death of Princess Diana. In the wake of Diana's death, the very private and tradition-bound Queen Elizabeth II (Mirren) finds herself in conflict with the new Prime Minister, the slickly modern and image-conscious Tony Blair. THE QUEEN, also starring Academy Award? Nominee James Cromwell (Best Supporting Actor, BABE, 1995), takes you inside the private chambers of the Royal Family and the British government for a captivating look at a vulnerable human being in her darkest hour, as a nation grieving for its People's Princess waits to see what its leaders will do. Suspenseful, heartfelt and riveting, it's a fascinating story you won't soon forget.Helen Mirren reigns supreme in The Queen, a witty and ingenious look at a moment that rocked the house of Windsor: the week that followed the sudden death of Princess Diana in 1997. Diana's death came at just the same time that Prime Minister Tony Blair (played by the bright Michael Sheen) was settling into his new government--and trying to figure out the delicate relationship between 10 Downing Street and Queen Elizabeth II (Mirren). A large portion of the British population was trying to figure out the Windsors that week, as Elizabeth remained stiff-upper-lip and largely mum about the death of the beloved princess. In Peter Morgan's skillful script, we watch as Blair grows increasingly impatient with the Royals, who are sequestered in their Scottish estate while the public demands some show of grief. Prince Philip (James Cromwell, in good form) clumsily decides to take Diana's sons hunting, while a sympathetically-treated Prince Charles (Alex Jennings) displays some frustration with his mother's eerie calm.
None of this conveys how funny the film is, or how deftly it flows from one scene to the next. Director Stephen Frears (Dirty Pretty Things) deserves great credit for that, and for the performances, and for the movie's marvelous sense of well-roundedness; you could see this movie and groan at the cluelessness of the Royals and their outmoded existence, or you might just sympathize with showing reserve in a world that values gross public displays of emotion. But either way, you'll marvel at Mirren, who makes the Queen far more alert and human than one might ever have imagined. --Robert Horton
Beyond The Queen
 The British are Coming! Kings & Queens on DVD |  Helen Mirren Essential DVDs |  The Queen: Music From the Motion Picture by Alexandre Desplat |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
Art House & International DVD Video
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Movies most talked about in Miramax Collector's Series
Pulp Fiction (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)TRAVOLTA/JACKSON/THURMAN; Release date: 2002-08-20; DVD
Best price: $7.52
Price in other shops:
My Left Foot (Special Edition)DAY-LEWIS,DANIEL; Release date: 2005-08-16; DVD
Best price: $9.14
Price in other shops:
City of GodRelease date: 2004-06-08; DVD
Best price: $6.01
Price in other shops:
Sling Blade - Director's Cut (Miramax Collector's Series)THORNTON,BILLY BOB; Release date: 2005-06-07; DVD
Best price: $5.06
Price in other shops:
Gangs of New York (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)Release date: 2003-07-01; DVD
Best price: $5.20
Price in other shops:
The English Patient (Miramax Collector's Edition)FIENNES,RALPH; Release date: 2004-06-29; DVD
Best price: $7.00
Price in other shops:
Cold Mountain (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)LAW,JUDE; Release date: 2004-06-29; DVD
Best price: $4.76
Price in other shops:
Life Is BeautifulRelease date: 1999-11-09; DVD
Best price: $9.26
Price in other shops:
The Cider House Rules (Miramax Collector's Series)Release date: 2000-08-15; DVD
Best price: $4.25
Price in other shops:
Chocolat (Miramax Collector's Series)BINOCHE,JULIETTE; Release date: 2001-08-07; DVD
Best price: $4.74
Price in other shops:
Similar DVD Movies
The Pursuit of Happyness (Widescreen Edition)Sony; Release date: 2007-03-27; DVD
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops:
Deja VuDeja; Release date: 2007-04-24; DVD
Best price: $2.94
Price in other shops:
Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (Widescreen Edition)APOCALYPTO; Release date: 2007-05-22; DVD
Best price: $9.29
Price in other shops:
Blood Diamond (Widescreen Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2007-03-20; DVD
Best price: $4.08
Price in other shops:
Elizabeth - The Golden Age (Widescreen Edition)UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAIN.; Release date: 2008-02-05; DVD
Best price: $6.36
Price in other shops:
Letters from Iwo Jima (Two-Disc Special Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2007-05-22; DVD
Best price: $1.94
Price in other shops:
Elizabeth IWarner Brothers; Release date: 2006-08-22; DVD
Best price: $10.44
Price in other shops:
Notes on a ScandalTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-04-17; DVD
Best price: $8.39
Price in other shops:
Dreamgirls (Two-Disc Showstopper Edition)PARAMOUNT PICTURES; Release date: 2007-05-01; DVD
Best price: $2.74
Price in other shops:
The Last King of Scotland (Widescreen Edition)TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-04-17; DVD
Best price: $5.15
Price in other shops: