The Queen is not a movie about the aftermath of Princess Diana's death, nor even the Queen, but a movie about questions:
Do we still need the monarchy?
Do we even want it?
I thought Helen Mirren's performance would humanize Queen Elizabeth, and in some respects it did. Watching Her Majesty trundle around the palace in her enormous eyeglasses and fuzzy pink robe, fastening pins in her hair to secure the same hairstyle she's been sporting her entire life, you understand she's really just a normal old woman bent on living a peaceful life full of well-ordered routine. But after watching half the film, you almost begin to believe David Icke's theory: P'raps she is a 12-foot-tall, Satan-worshipping lizard in disguise.
The elder royals come across as the most oblivious, truly callow people, so absorbed in their arcane rituals and their blood sports that reality can't find a way to penetrate them. It's damn near impossible to relate to the royal couple as they go to ground in that creepy old castle Balmoral, trying to distract their grandsons from their grief by obsessively stalking a massive stag. You can't help but shudder as the Queen Mother, an exemplary queen in her own time, refers to Diana's mourners as "hysterics with candles". Then slowly you begin to realize the problem's not her inhumanity, it's her humanity: The old pride and prejudice.
Tony Blair, in his pre-crazy days, is portrayed as a reformer awkwardly, unwillingly, straddling two kingdoms - the antiquated and labrynthine kingdom of the Windsors, and his own. You don't envy his position. The people have asked him to run the country, but he must ask the Queen for permission. Is this right? Can the monarchy ever really understand the will of the people?
Yet the second half of the film makes you aware that Her Majesty is as much a victim of an archaic worldview as she is a perpetrator. Raised with an inflexible respect for duty and history over and above personal freedoms, she was born and brought into a role impossible for anyone to fulfill satisfactorily. She has devoted herself heart, body, mind, and soul to that nearly-obsolete role. At this time, she is the strongest bridge between England's illustrious history and its uncertain future.
Do I think it's time to abolish the monarchy? No. When Queen Elizabeth II dies, then it will be time.
There's a lot of kerfuffle over The Death of the President, and we witnessed some of it firsthand in the ticket line-up. A 60ish woman in a wheelchair was deliberately holding up the line to ask questions about the film: Why was it made if the President isn't dead yet? Isn't that too controversial? Why? Huh? Why? When we exited the theatre nearly two hours later, she was still patrolling the lobby like a shark.
It's painfully obvious to me now that the people protesting this movie haven't seen it. Because it's not a wish-fulfillment sort of thing. It's a nightmare. Think about it: If Bush was assassinated, what would happen? Ponder that for a few seconds. Not pretty, is it? So there you go. If there is a central message to this film, it's this: PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND ALL THAT IS GOOD IN THE WORLD, DO NOT SHOOT THE PRESIDENT!!!! WE'RE BEGGING YOU!!!
The mockumentary itself is mediocre, using found footage and a cast of rather bland interviewees to fill out a textbook assassination scenario that rings a little too true: It's dull. Course, it doesn't help that Bush himself is an inherently boring guy, completely devoid of mystery. You can't polish a turd.
Yesterday I watched The Little Mermaid (I buckled to the tyranny of The Vault) right after Richard told me about this bizarre story. Kind of a depressing combination. Clearly, life is not better down where it's wetter.
Additions to my must-see list:
- The Last King of Scotland (Forrest Whittaker as Idi Amin)
- Bobby
- Deliver Us From Evil (documentary)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Thanks! Great reviews. You know, isn't that the way things go - the royalty (including those elected) eventually loose touch with reality? They create a new reality in their own world.
No, let's not assassinate Bush - although there has been a lot of conjecture -- that it is old one-shot Cheney running the country from behind the scenes - is Bush really smart enough?
Keep up the reviews! It's the only way out here in Podunk, Wyoming that I know about a movie. We have had "Flika" playing for three weeks now.
I feel your pain: In my hometown, "Titanic" ran for about 3 months - and there were only 2 screens at the time!
We have 5 screens now!...AND elevated seats!....WHOOHOO!
Great reviews, SME!
Number one reason not to assassinate Bush: that idiot Cheney.
As for the Queen, I really want to see this. I agree that this woman is a victim of her upbringing. I feel so sorry for how sheltered she is, and because of that it's hard to blame her for being out of touch. But I think the monarchy in the UK is the victim of rather ridiculous legislation brought in in the 17th or 18th century that painted them into a corner. The constitutional monarchy we have over there now is a joke, but other monarchies in Europe are much different and much more effective (the Scandinavian ones come to mind). Like with our paliamentary system here, the system in the UK I think could be overhauled to work well with an effective monarchy. I personally am not opposed to a monarchy - providing it's done right.
Yeah, I think there's hope for the English monarchy - if they become more flexible, or are allowed to become more flexible, very soon. I've heard European royalty is much more progressive.
Post a Comment