The Best New Film That You Have Seen
I had never even noticed Keanu Reeves until about two years ago when I happened upon a 1995 movie being shown on TV called A Walk in the Clouds. Could have been a better movie, but he played a wonderful and romantic role in it. I'm something of a connoisseur of movie kisses, and his are very nice, I must say. He carries on this tradition in The Lake House, the plot of which has a mind-bending quality that also makes it very appealing.
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moira finnie
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The Queen (2006)
I watched The Queen (2006) with a startling, precise and compassionate portrayal of Elizabeth II by Helen Mirren just this week. I thought that she, (with credit going to her makeup, hair and costumers too), gave a fine performance. Mirren's best moments come in the film when she's not speaking, but listening or simply thinking. These are the parts of her performance in which I suspect that she came closest to embodying her character.
The script by Peter Morgan was the other star attraction here, as he blended the reality of the time of Princess Diana's death with the fictionalized "inside" story. Mirren's performance and Morgan's metaphor for the situation, an elusive, breathtakingly beautiful 14 point stag wandering around the grounds of Balmoral, added a cohesion to the story.
Michael Sheen as Tony Blair shares a passing resemblance to the prime minister at his most boyish, but his characterization seemed to grow on me, until one scene when Blair finally and curtly puts his political advisor in his place after enduring the endless criticism of Elizabeth. The character of Cherie Blair (Helen McCrory), btw, was one whale of a hatchet job--if Mrs. Blair is as acerbic and unhelpful as this woman, I pity ol' Tony. One standout was Roger Allam as the Queen's secretary, Robin Janvrin, who gave a delightful performance as he attempted to lead Blair through the minefield of royal protocol and to coax the Queen into acknowledging pressing late 20th century realities.
Imho, the James Cromwell performance as Prince Philip did not do justice to that man. Having seen Philip interviewed numerous times, I've no doubt that he can definitely be cranky, but he can also be very charming, especially when speaking about something he clearly loves, such as painting and the outdoors. While I think he's a pretty tough and cool customer, I doubt if Philip's as Snidely Whiplashish as Cromwell's character was drawn. One of the best aspects of the film is the attempt to catch the near hysteria of many who mourned the Princess contrasted with the sadness, regret and private disdain of some of those who knew her better. The laudable reticence of the film in regard to the Princes, who are never seen speaking, is noteworthy and underpins the strength of this film.
Overall, I thought it was beautifully done and well directed by Stephen Frears, whose often mischievous films, such as The Snapper and Mrs. Henderson Presents, are enjoyable. I'm still glad that I'm a wild colonial girl, but even if you can't admire the British monarchy, this film comes close to increasing one's respect and understanding for that archaic institution and the fallible human beings who are born into it.
The script by Peter Morgan was the other star attraction here, as he blended the reality of the time of Princess Diana's death with the fictionalized "inside" story. Mirren's performance and Morgan's metaphor for the situation, an elusive, breathtakingly beautiful 14 point stag wandering around the grounds of Balmoral, added a cohesion to the story.
Michael Sheen as Tony Blair shares a passing resemblance to the prime minister at his most boyish, but his characterization seemed to grow on me, until one scene when Blair finally and curtly puts his political advisor in his place after enduring the endless criticism of Elizabeth. The character of Cherie Blair (Helen McCrory), btw, was one whale of a hatchet job--if Mrs. Blair is as acerbic and unhelpful as this woman, I pity ol' Tony. One standout was Roger Allam as the Queen's secretary, Robin Janvrin, who gave a delightful performance as he attempted to lead Blair through the minefield of royal protocol and to coax the Queen into acknowledging pressing late 20th century realities.
Imho, the James Cromwell performance as Prince Philip did not do justice to that man. Having seen Philip interviewed numerous times, I've no doubt that he can definitely be cranky, but he can also be very charming, especially when speaking about something he clearly loves, such as painting and the outdoors. While I think he's a pretty tough and cool customer, I doubt if Philip's as Snidely Whiplashish as Cromwell's character was drawn. One of the best aspects of the film is the attempt to catch the near hysteria of many who mourned the Princess contrasted with the sadness, regret and private disdain of some of those who knew her better. The laudable reticence of the film in regard to the Princes, who are never seen speaking, is noteworthy and underpins the strength of this film.
Overall, I thought it was beautifully done and well directed by Stephen Frears, whose often mischievous films, such as The Snapper and Mrs. Henderson Presents, are enjoyable. I'm still glad that I'm a wild colonial girl, but even if you can't admire the British monarchy, this film comes close to increasing one's respect and understanding for that archaic institution and the fallible human beings who are born into it.
About the only movies I've gone to in the past year and haven't shrugged off are "The Queen" (which was wonderfully reviewed by moirafinnie), "Over the Hedge' (predictable and over the top, but a funny, ironic indictment of agressive suburbia), "The Illusionist" (nifty who-dun-it/thriller) and "Pan's Labyrinth" (creepy/beautiful--leaves in the horrorific side of fairy tales that the Disney films pare away.)
Tracey
Tracey
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. "~~Wilde
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moira finnie
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