The Queen (2006) Critic Reviews

The Queen is the kind of thought-provoking, well-written and savvy film that discerning filmgoers long for but rarely get.Read the full review

Helen Mirren is a goddess of an actress, and her Queen Elizabeth is maddening, hilarious, and deeply human, galumphing around the Balmoral estate in a tartan raincoat and waders as the Britain she thought she knew crumbles around her.Read the full review

Tradition and informality collide -- and mutually benefit -- in the deliciously written and expertly played The Queen.Read the full review

Mirren's finely calibrated performance reveals a complex woman coping with a bewildering world, and Blair's growing sympathy for his beleaguered monarch gradually becomes ours. This nuanced compassion may not impress the real Queen Elizabeth II, but, for us commoners, it makes for a richer experience.Read the full review

Marvelously smart, funny and entertaining film.Read the full review

Mirren begins the film having her portrait painted, looking every inch the monarch and proud to play the part. By the end, she's let the pressure of one week, and maybe a lifetime, show in her eyes.Read the full review

In a commanding performance that is as compelling as it is unexpected, Mirren has turned The Queen into something you never imagined it could be: a crackling dramatic story that's intelligent, thoughtful and moving.Read the full review

A fascinating mix of high-minded gossip and historical perspective, examines the clash of values -- of ritual and traditions versus media savvy and political ambition -- that leads to a crisis for the British monarchy.Read the full review

Helen Mirren's allure lies not in finding what's regal in every woman she plays, but in finding what's womanly in every royal.Read the full review