One of the best films of 2006. Great directing from Stephen Frears. The delicate subject matter of the events leading up to Princess Diana's public funeral was tasefully handled from the first frame till the last.

Dame Helen...
[+] Read Full Review

One of the best films of 2006. Great directing from Stephen Frears. The delicate subject matter of the events leading up to Princess Diana's public funeral was tasefully handled from the first frame till the last.

Dame Helen Mirren's superb portrayal of Queen Elizabeth demystified one of the most misunderstood women of the century. Her portrayal gave us a rare glimpse into the life of a woman who didn't want to be Queen, yet handles her situation with quiet strength and dignity.

Following the death of Princess Diana, The country mourns publicly, while the Royal Family prefers to mourn her death in private. This act is taken out of context by an angry public, who demands that the Queen break from tradition and mourn along with them. It is in her staunch refusal to break tradition that newly elected Prime Minister, Tony Blair, must step in and convince the Queen to show the public that the Monarchy is willing to give their beloved Princess a very public farewell.

The underlying story is the death of the "People's Princess" and how she and the Royal Family didn't always see eye to eye. The newsreel footage and interviews with the Princess gave us one last look at a woman who was more accepted by the public then the Royal Family.

Finally, the film did a good job of depicting the shaking friendship between the young, idealistic Prime Minister and the unyeilding, traditionalist Queen.