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Writer and editor Home > Blogs > Brain Droppings > Archives > 2007 > February > 11 > Entry
Helen Mirren is fab
Today’s New York Times Sunday magazine is worth a read … it’s the fourth edition of the Oscar preview they do, a special foto gallery of movie stars who had standout performances in the previous year.
No surprise to anybody that Helen Mirren, bedecked in a dramatic black dress that sharply contrasts her crown of silver hair, graces … and I mean graces … the cover.
Of course you’ve heard all the buzz about her work in “The Queen,” and even in a year of many good performances by women actors, her turn as Elizabeth II has all the even money on her to win Best Actress.
I haven’t seen all the other contenders, but I did see “The Queen,” Stephen Frears’ fine look at the week between Princess Diana’s death and funeral, and the royal family’s response, or lack thereof, to it. The story revolves around that lack thereof, in fact… Remember back to that week, when millions of people were arriving in London to mourn the “people’s princess,” and Buckingham Palace made no public statement of sadness or remorse?
I had forgotten this, but people started to viciously turn against Elizabeth and the monarchy, accusing her in the press and in dropping polls of heartlessness and meanness. There was talk for a while that the monarchy could actually fall.
While that turned out to be hyperbole at a sad moment, the new PM, Tony Blair, released wisely that the mood of the people on this was not to be trifled with, that the elderly queen was badly misreading it. The movie is about the interactions between them as he convinces her to make a public pronouncement about Diana.
It doesn’t sound like the stuff of drama, but trust me … it is, and it works because of the wonderful performances. Michael Sheen is great as Blair, balancing concern for country with a growing awareness of his own popularity and power. He comes to respect the queen more than he had before.
Mirren plays out the queen’s slow realization that she has lost touch with the times and her emotions. She inhabits the role so totally that you forget you’re watching somebody who isn’t Queen Elizabeth. It’s an amazing job, very fun to watch.
Mirren, it should be noted, had a great year on TV, too. She was great as the first Queen Elizabeth in HBO’s four-hour series on her life and loves. That may have been a harder role, too. She nails it.
And on PBS, she continued her fine work as the aging, alcoholic detective on “Prime Suspect,” which is the greatest cop show on the tube, period.
What, you thought that honor belonged to “CSI”? Oh, you poor thing.
That’s another blog entry, another time.
Comments
By linda
February 14, 2007 11:03 AM | Link to this
she is very glamorous and gives us older women who don’t go around without our underwear someone to aspire to.By linda
February 14, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this
saw ‘the queen.’ loved it and so did my movie-picky husband. if mirren doesn’t get the oscar,there is no justice. i would have loved to have seen the makeup prep. we both thought the homage to the buck was a little over the top but sometimes i guess one has to beat the audience over the head with the message. sheen was wonderful. have to wonder if prince philip is such a ——By 1gladgirl
February 14, 2007 2:00 AM | Link to this
Love “Prime Suspect” -oh did I say that out loud? I’m a PBS nerd. Okay, while I’m at it, I’m an NPR nerd too and enjoyed Helen’s interview with Terry Gross on “Fresh Air”. I saw “The Queen” and was fastinated! I had no idea Tony played such a large role in that historic event. (too bad WDTN’s Colleen Sullivan didn’t meet him first- oh snap!) And James Cromwell as Prince Philip, he was born to play that part. The film itself was very good- the real clips of Diana were chilling, but Helen carried the film. I wonder what an awkward moment that will be in the room if she is ever made a Dame by the Queen. Other noms- “Little Miss Sunshine” should take every win it’s up for in my book. I love that film and put it on the top of my wish list last Christmas! “Babel”- haven’t seen it. I get the feeling it’s a rip off of last years big winner “Crash”. And I’m not a fan of anyone in the film “Babel”. “Borat”- I saw it opening weekend and just the audience energy alone made this film award worthy. Do they even have a comedy category in the Oscars? Al Gore needs to win for the film and for just showing up at every awards program there is. He was on the Grammy’s too. Why? Still not sure. Ironic though, given Tippers history with the rock industry. hhmm. I’m most excited about the hosts opening of the show. That’s always the best part for me. And Ellen is one of my all time comedy hero’s so I’m double excited about this year. Billy Crystal and Marc Shaiman are hard to beat though. I love it when those two do their traditional Oscar opening medley.