Monday, February 26, 2007

The Emotionally Retarded Monarch...I Mean The Queen

** SPOILER ALERT **

Went to see The Queen with A Work In Progress yesterday. I'm sad to report I was a bit disappointed in the movie. Perhaps it was that my expectations had been set so high. Or that the main characters were so unsympathetic. It was worth the price of a matinee ticket, and kept me interested throughout, but it just didn't connect with me.

The story centers around the British monarchy, particular Queen Elizabeth II, and their reaction to the death of Prince Diana. It really is an interesting study into what was going on behind the walls of Balmoral Castle and the hazards of poor public relations. I found out that the royals aren't likable at all ("a'tall" in the Queen's English). The woman puts mourning a stag over a human and can't understand why she no longer connects with her subjects.

James Cromwell played Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip. Better know as Farmer Hoggett in BABE, I kept wanting to shout out "That'll do pig!" whenever they were on screen together and the queen said something unfeeling and/or obnoxious.

It was up for six Oscars last night:

Best Picture
Stephen Frears — Best Director
Helen Mirren — Leading Actressˆ º
Alexandre Desplat — Score
Consolata Boyle — Costume Design
Peter Morgan — Writing, Original Screenplay

ˆAcademy Award winner
º I don't really follow the whole fashion and red carpet drama, but I did think that Helen Mirren was the best dressed of the night.
Tomorrow I will recount my trip to London just two weeks after Princess Diana's death.
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