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"THE QUEEN" (2006) (Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Minor Moderate Heavy Mild Minor Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Minor None None None Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Mild None Heavy Moderate Minor QUICK TAKE: Drama: Following the death of Princess Diana, both the Queen and newly elected Prime Minister try to gauge public reaction regarding how to respond officially to the tragedy. PLOT: It's 1997 and Tony Blair (MICHAEL SHEEN) is the newly elected Prime Minister of Great Britain, a point of happiness for his wife Cherie (HELEN McCRORY) who has a disdain for the royal family. Yet, as protocol dictates, she goes along with her husband to meet Queen Elizabeth II (HELEN MIRREN), a leader whose life operates entirely around protocol and who's been in her position of power and influence since the days of Winston Churchill. Their roles and relationship are put to the test months later following the untimely demise of Princess Diana in Paris. Her ex-husband, Prince Charles (ALEX JENNINGS), wants to fly there to accompany her body back to England, but the Queen forbids it, citing protocol and the fact that the late Princess hasn't been part of the royal family since their divorce. Her mother, the Queen Mother (SYLVIA SYMS), and husband, Prince Philip (JAMES CROMWELL), agree, but public sentiment soon turns from grief over Di's death to outrage that the royals haven't made any sort of public showing of sadness and are still vacationing at their Balmoral estate. Thinking she's doing the right thing and that she knows the British people better than anyone else, the Queen refuses to alter their official response. As the public outrage grows, however, the Prime Minister decides he must intervene and try to convince her to change her mind, not only for the monarchy's reputation, but also for the good of the entire country. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? It doesn't seem too likely unless they're fans of someone in the cast or are interested in the British royal family. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For brief strong language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: HELEN MIRREN plays the longstanding Queen of England who gives Tony a respectful but cool welcome as the new Prime Minister, and is then confounded by the public reaction toward her and the rest of the monarchy's response to Princess Di's death. She steadfastly holds her ground despite growing resentment toward her by the masses until she finally comes to understand the public grief. MICHAEL SHEEN plays the newly elected Prime Minister who has grand plans for the country, but has them pushed aside by the growing Princess Di crises. Initially not a big fan of the monarchy, he has a change of heart and tries to help the Queen by convincing her about the right rather than proper way to respond to the tragedy. HELEN McCRORY plays Tony's wife who doesn't like anything to do with the monarchy, enjoys them getting egg on their face, and can't believe it when Tony actually defends the Queen and tries to help her public relations fiasco. She briefly uses strong profanity. ALEX JENNINGS plays Prince Charles, the Queen's nonassertive son who must deal with his ex-wife's death (especially in regarding to telling their young sons), worries that he's going to be shot one day, and favors Tony's approach of handling the monarchy's reaction to the tragedy. JAMES CROMWELL plays the Queen's haughty husband who shares her beliefs in how the royal family should react. He thinks the best way to help his grandsons cope is by taking them hunting. SYLVIA SYMS plays the Queen Mother who mostly sits back and observes but occasionally gives some advice to her daughter. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a quick look at the content found in this drama that's rated PG-13. Profanity consists of 1 use of the "f" word, while a handful of other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Some classic-style statues show bare breasts. Some characters have bad attitudes toward others, and tense family material includes royal family reaction to Princess Di's death (particularly in regards to her two young sons). The film briefly recreates the events leading up to the car crash that took her life, but doesn't show the actual accident or aftermath. For those sensitive about hunting, we see the carcass of a buck that's been beheaded and hung up to bleed dry (some blood as well as the severed head are seen). Finally, some brief drinking also occurs. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE The Queen might have a drink while in bed, and later is seen with another in a different scene. The Queen Mother has a drink. BLOOD/GORE Hearing that a stag she had earlier admired in the wild has been shot, the Queen wants to see it. She's then let into a room where it's hanging upside down in the center of the room, headless with a small pool of blood below the body. She then sees the severed head on a nearby counter or table. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Tony's wife is anti-monarchy, and she mocks the Queen's stuffy attitude (not in her presence) after meeting her: "Thank you very much, now f*ck off." The film recreates the events leading up to the car chase that killed Princess Di and others. We see the paparazzi on motorcycles chasing the limo, eventually into the tunnel where the crash occurred (but we don't see the incident or immediate aftermath). Some may see the Queen's reluctance to make any public statement about or show grief over Princess Di's death as having a bad attitude. The Queen and particularly Prince Philip hold a grudge toward Princess Di (for events in the past), even after her death. Tony's speechwriter, Alastair, has a bad attitude toward the monarchy and revels in their image being tarnished. Prince Philip comments that he thought Charles would give up his other woman or that at least Di would have towed the line (meaning put up with her husband's adulterous ways). For those opposed to hunting, a few scenes deal with that. Prince Philip complains about the people lined up for Di's funeral service being soap stars and homosexuals. He then says that reminds him of films featuring hordes of Zulus (tribesmen). FRIGHTENING SCENES The film recreates the events leading up to the car chase that killed Princess Di and others. We see the paparazzi on motorcycles chasing the limo, eventually into the tunnel where the crash occurred (but we don't see the incident or immediate aftermath). That sequence is inter-cut with other footage of Princess Di from various moments in the limelight. The Queen tries to cross a river in her SUV, but the bouncy ride causes something to break and she ends up stuck there (but isn't in any real danger since the river is very low). We hear distant gunshots from some hunting and the Queen tells a nearby buck to run away (and she then sees that it has). Hearing that a buck she had earlier admired in the wild has been shot, the Queen wants to see it. She's then let into a room where it's hanging upside down in the center of the room, headless with a small pool of blood below the body. She then sees the severed head on a nearby counter or table. GUNS/WEAPONS We hear distant gunshots from some hunting and the Queen tells a nearby stag to run away (and she then sees that it has). Prince Philip carries a hunting rifle. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Thank you very much, now f*ck off," "Bugger it," "Screwed up," "Screw up," "Where the hell is the flag?" "Freeloading, emotionally retarded natters," "It's just daft," "Bloody fool," "Bloody madness" and "Old bat." JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 1 "f" word, 1 bugger, 1 hell, 2 uses of "God" and 1 use each of "For God's sakes" and "Oh Christ." SEX/NUDITY Some real footage of Princess Di shows her cleavage, while her boyfriend at the time (Dodi Fayed) is seen shirtless. We see a classic-style statue of a mostly nude woman in the palace (topless and holding "material" across her crotch). We then see a different statue that also shows a bare breast. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Charles gets news that his ex-wife was killed in an accident and reacts accordingly. He wants to fly to Paris (where her body is), but the Queen won't allow it (on the royal plane). The Queen briefly peeks in on Charles telling his boys that their mother is dead (we don't hear the conversation). Through a window, we see Charles going in to see Di's body in a coffin (we don't see the body) and he reacts accordingly. We see Di's flag-covered coffin being transported from a plane. Prince Philip comments that he thought Charles would give up his other woman or that at least Di would have towed the line (meaning put up with her husband's adulterous ways). TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The historical accuracy and/or artistic license taken in telling the tale. Monarchies and their place and purpose in today's world. The quote "Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown." The Queen stating the role of the monarchy is to advise, guide and warn the government of the day. Why the Queen and Prince Philip act the way they do (by protocol and with bitterness toward Di). Prince Philip's solution for the grieving boys is to take them hunting. Charles fearing that he'll be shot. The Queen jokingly asks Tony if they've shown him how to start a nuclear war yet. The Queen saying that the way they do things is quietly and with dignity. Why Tony started to defend the Queen and the monarchy. How people are often deeply affected by a famous person's death (as occurred with Princess Di). VIOLENCE While we don't see the actual act, we see the aftermath of a buck having been shot, beheaded and hung up to bleed dry. Reviewed September 20, 2006 / Posted November 3, 2006

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