Sprint to the Oscars - The Queen

The Sneaky Cheetah continues his quest to see every nominated film before the Academy Awards.

The Queen
Nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Helen Mirran), Best Original Screenplay, Best Music (Score), and Best Costumes

I found this film fascinating. Much like United 93, I felt I was watching a documentary, reliving a moment in time that I actually remember. Beyond the use of news footage of Princess Diana and the events unfolding in the week after her death, the portrayal of the Royal Family and Prime Minister Tony Blair was simply brilliant. It took a minor interest I have for the British Monarchy and politics and fanned it to a burning desire to learn more about The Queen, a desire I took to Wikipedia as soon as I returned home. There's no argument that Helen Mirran's performance borders somewhere between acting and actually becoming Queen Elizabeth II herself. Mirran's complete transformation has Best Actress all over it. Michael Sheen also deserves honors for his role as Tony Blair. It made me generally admire Blair, something that's been hard to do in recent years. While incredibly interesting (a testament to the top notch screenplay, I mean, how cool is it to see The Queen tooling around off-road in her Land Rover?) and impeccably acted, this is not a Best Picture. Nor a Best Directed film. Don't ask me why. I can't really tell you why, but I know it when I see it. The costumes were well done, but the goal was accuracy to 1997, which isn't really too hard, is it? And the score was not overly memorable. Look for the Queen to take home an Oscar for and possibly Screenplay. Most of my friends are sleeping on this film and it's apparent boring plot (no action, no thrills, no mystery, no sex, and we basically know the ending). This is a film that will be better viewed at home on DVD then the theater, in it's almost History Channel-esqueness. But if you're into that, and want to see some great acting, The Queen should not be missed. A

The Queen's trio of producers, Andy Harries, Christine Langan, and Tracey Seaward are all up for their first Oscar nomination. Director Stephen Frears was honored with a nomination in 1991 for The Grifters. Helen Mirren has two past nominations, both Supporting roles in 1995's The Madness of King George and 2002's Gosford Park. This is the first nomination for Screenwriter Peter Morgan, Composer Alexandre Desplat, and Costume Designer Consolata Boyle.