"The Queen"

phantom

I just finished watching "The Queen", and it was quite interesting to say the least. I have seen quite a few movies about the US presidents but this was my first movie experience of contemporary british royalty.

The movie takes you through the incidents after the death of diana and What went through the power galleries of britain during that period.

Frankly, at the time of her death, I didnt understand what the fuss was all about. I mean granted that she was a pretty young lady but that doesnt mean that the national flag should fly at half mast at her death.. !! I mean, could you believe it, that even Clinton gave a statement on her death.. !!! It looks more like everybody was trying to cash in on the sympathy.

I also remember when Tony Blair was first elected there was quite a lot of excitement surrounding that. He was projected as the leader who will stop the decay of Britain as a country and a world power. But a decade or so down the line, under his leadership, UK, increasingly looks like the 51st state of USA. I wonder, how the queen reacted to his decision of participating in the gulf war.

The movie has quite a few nice moments like, when blair first goes to meet the queen, he very nervously asks for her permission to form the govt and queen tells him that in fact, it was she, who was supposed to invite him to form the govt.
Then again, queen mentions that churchill made a pass at her.. wow.. now thats something, i never heard ..

All in all a film worth watching. Even though its facts+fiction, it holds your attention very nicely.

Sama

and Helen Mirren is always a fabulous actress in whatever movie she is in. Check out Calendar Girls, phantom....

and if you can get a copy of Prime Suspect, (a series she did for public broadcasting channels here in US), where she plays a detective, another bit of fine acting....

__________________
My India, 2005-2008
sama: Pali/Sanskrit: that state of consciousness which reflects neither attachment nor aversion

sirensongs

I saw this last week and really enjoyed it. My favourite "moment" was when HRH gets stuck in the Range Rover and sees the deer...obvious metaphor for Diana, always in the "shooting" range - and sympathizes with the creature (shoos it away).

Casting for Blair and Cherie Blair, and of course HRH, were perfect. Didn't care for the portrayal of the Queen Mum - too grumpy and surly; she never came across that way publicly. The actor playing Charles had the correct "worried" expression but just didn't seem like Charles without the nose! ;-)

__________________
"Why do people go to India to find themselves? India is where you go to lose yourself."
Feringhee: The India Diaries

Periscope

Has this been released in Indian theaters yet? I don't remember seeing it in Bombay and it's definitely one I have been waiting for. Actually when I first saw the trailer the movie looked dreadful but the reviews have been amazing and I was a big fan of Mirren's performance in Gosford Park.

sirensongs

Well, here in McLeod Ganj we get lots of movies before the Indian release...somehow, the local "video parlour" owners get them on DVD. Any day of the week for 30Rs you can see Pan's Labyrinth, The Queen, Last King of Scotland, Water, Kundun, Borat, all the latest....|

Sama

personally I would love to hear about the foreign reaction to Borat! I saw it recently and haven't laughed so hard at a movie in a LONG time.

I also HIGHLY recommend Breach, the true story of Robert Hanssen, the FBI agent who sold US secrets to the Russians for 20 years and how the FBI nailed him. One of the best movies I've seen in years. Chris Cooper who plays Hanssen is outstanding -- I hope he gets nominated for an Oscar....

kidsan

i also saw this film recently and thought it very good indeed. It was a period of time that i completely missed out on (unbelievably, i was doing a solitary retreat at the time and only found out what had happened after the event) and so found it very interesting to catch up.

I have a sense that you really need to be english (british?) to 'get' this film, though i may be wrong!

Confirmed my worst fears about philip, that's for sure

sirensongs

All the audience members were foreign tourist (American, British etc). ...? so their reactions were pretty much like mine.

However, I found Borat a bit too grossout for me. I know, it's part of the humour, but just not for me.

Sama

since it's an American movie, by "foreign" I meant non-American, outside America, whatever.

I read enough serious books and see enough serious films, so seeing a movie like Borat is refreshing, just like I have to get my fill of trash magazines at the salon when I get my hair cut --it's all about balance! Personally I loved the scene with the glimpse of the bear's head in the fridge after the mgr. told Borat the bear ran away.

and as Sacha Baron Cohen commented when he won his Oscar, I would have to agree that he deserved his Oscar solely for the naked wrestling scene!

phantom

Borat, is the next on my list. I am quite eager to find out what this whole fuss is all about

Also, in line is "Pursuit of happiness". Anybody seen it yet ??

Periscope

Haven't seen it but the Pursuit of Happyness (the spelling is apparently explained in the movie) seems to be a fairly standard "triumph over adversity" story about a father and his son. It does appear to be quite well made so I might see it though only after the Namesake and Little Miss Sunshine. You can find more information about it in IMDB or Rotten Tomatoes and if you have a broadband connection check out the trailer at Apple Trailers.

Sama

I think people either love it or hate it, phantom, at least that's my experience with people I know. I must say that I was quite surprised at my own reaction to it! for all it's over the top scenes, of which there are many, I also thought it was subtle. watch Borat's face when he's talking to the man at the rodeo...

LArkitekt

phantom: just for your info, the big deal was that she was a princess to a nation, which still holds on to monarchy.

Borat:
yes it is hilarious....but those of us who have been following Borat's character for a long time from Da Ali G show both in UK and US, are very familiar with him, and have always been my favorite of the three characters...most of the situations are recycled...

check out some photos from 2005 halloween when i went as Ali G...it was a big hit and had a great time...funny thing was it brought out Ali G, Borat and Bruno inall of partygoers. ofcourse the bling bling is not real.
disclaimer: i'm not usually dressed like that

and Helen Mirren, she's not only is a fabulous actress, wow!!!>...she only gets gorgeous....especially in her age.

some mainstream movies i recommend on top of those already recommended.

1. Departed (usually not a big fan of this genre....but it grips you to the very end. scorcese finally gets an oscar. and who would have thought that leonardo will go onto become a powerhouse actor. check him out in Blood Diamond also)

2. The lives of Others (German: Das Leben der Anderen. won oscars for best foreign movie)

3. 300 (part comic book/part greek myth, not again a big fan of this genre. but worth checking out just for the stunning realization)

4. Apocalypto (intersting mayan legend set around the arrival of spanish explorers...and more interesting to see the whole movie in native language. now compare that to Goya's Ghost that had everyone speaking in their own english accent, what a mess. think whatever you might of mel gibson...he definitely delivers as a director...powerful movie)

5. Children of Men (futuristic movie set in 2047 england,which is the last refuge formankind and its been 18years since the last child was born. great cinematography and definitely well made.)

seems like the year of mexican directors...inaritu, del toro and cuaron)

Pursuit of Happiness is definitely worth watching...Little Miss Sunshine is not bad but i dont know what the fuss is all about.

my 2 cents worth.

cheers

Sama

refreshing to hear someone say that....

and a convincing Ali G....

LArkitekt

thanks YogaGal

by the way, i saw that you posted a couple of photos of meenakshi temple taken from the roof terraces of one of those tourist traps souvenir shops ...

were you in madurai recently?