I had this one on my selection from easy cinema for a while. There was so much publicity surrounding the film including HelenMirren winning an oscar I could not miss it.
The film is basicaly about Tony Blairs confrontation with the royal family about the way in which affairs of state should be handled.The issue is that of Princess Diana's funeral and how it should be presented to the public. In fact a lot more is at stake, Tony is newly elected and he sees his popularity as being very important to his public image. The film opens with Tony being newly elected and his first meeting with the Queen which is more or less a disaster for Tony as he does not seem to be treated with much respect.
When the tradgedy strikes and Diana is killed Tony's spin doctor sees an opportunity for him to capture public popularity and drafts a "peoples princess speech" during the night for Tony to broadcast in the morning. Michael Sheen plays the part of Tony and is exempalry, he should have got an oscar as well.
When the news breaks the Queen takes her grand children to the family home in Balmoral and sets about trying to live a normal life under the circumstances. The acting of Helen Mirren begins to shine here but I must admit I thought the actors who played Charles and the Queen Mother were not very good and I struggled to recognise them if it were not for the revealing script in which the family agree to make funeral arrangements for Diana using a funeral that had allready been planned for another member of the royal circle.
Meanwhile back in London chaos is breaking lose as near hysteria grips London. The film uses original footage of people being interviewed. Most of them make remarks implying the royal family is becoming very unpopular. Tony is aware and his diploamcy is begininng to dictate his next actions as he struggles to make sense of the situation and give the leadership he is responsible for.
He makes 3 phone calls to the Queen alltogether until finally he demands that as Prime Minister the Queen must answer his call and return to London.
The film is shot in sharply contrasting light. Different camera effects are used. Tony Blair is filmed as part of the background to London in documentary style similar to the old newreels footage of London in mourning. He is shown as a working class, family orientated serious minded politician.
The royal family are shown against the gloomy background of Scottish skies. The sets and costumes are lavish. The family element is handled discreetley as William and Harry are only shown in the background and some sensitive issues are left out of the script.
THe family go hunting deer while the diplomats try to negotiate the best possible solution.Prince Philip constantly makes disbarging remarks to everyone around him but comes out as more of a character than a villain. Finaly the Queen returns to London with her grandchildren.
Diplomacy and leadership triumph in the end and Tony Blair has his way. This film is as much about the success of Tony Blair as a prime minister as it is about the near downfall of the royal family.
There are some humorous moments in the film like when Tony appears in a Newcastle t-shirt and one when the Queen's land rover breaks down.
Overall it was an interesting experience but I would not bother to watch it again. The overall impression I got was that the film was party propaganda to show British Diplomacy in triumph over adversity.