Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 1/28/07 w/ Additional Edits & Revisions.
Directed by Stephen Frears and written by Peter Morgan, The Queen is the story about Queen Elizabeth II dealing with new Prime Minister Tony Blair as they try to deal with the death of Princess Diana in a car accident in Paris. The film is a dramatization into Queen Elizabeth II's reaction to Diana's death as the world waits for her own public response as Blair is trying to modernize Britain in this second part of Morgan's trilogy about Blair's rise as he is played by Michael Sheen while Helen Mirren plays Queen Elizabeth II. Also starring Michael Sheen, James Cromwell, Helen McCroy, Alex Jennings, and Sylvia Syms. The Queen is a riveting film from Stephen Frears.
The film is an exploration into the arrival of Tony Blair as Prime Minister of Great Britain after 18 years of Conservative rule as he would meet Queen Elizabeth II where they would meet again a few months later following the tragic death of the former Princess of Wales Diana Spencer in a car accident in a Parisian tunnel. For the Queen and her husband Prince Philip (James Cromwell), they want a private funeral but Blair's statements about Diana as the People's Princess brings pressure to the Royal Family as Prince Charles (Alex Jennings) thinks Blair is on the right path. Eventually, the Queen gives in to Blair's ideas and the public scrutiny but it would come at a price for would come for Blair just as his popularity would soar.
Though it's more of a dramatic account of what might’ve gone on inside the monarchy and through Blair’s camp, Stephen Frears and screenwriter Peter Morgan does manage to bring a film that reflects on that week where the world watched. Really, the film is about Queen Elizabeth II trying to attain her role as a public figure and remaining true to her role of tradition and her own thoughts of Britain. Frears and Morgan deserve credit for portraying the Queen as well as other characters as figures who try to figure out what to do in this time of crisis concerning the death of Princess Diana. The result is a very strong, very cerebral film with a few entertaining moments courtesy of Frears' observant direction and the amazing screenplay by Peter Morgan.
Morgan's script is truly superb in how the characters are portrayed as well as the script's structure. The first fifteen minutes of the film is on Blair's arrival and his first meeting with the Queen and the last twenty-minutes is about the aftermath of the Diana funeral two months afterwards where Blair meets the Queen once again. Morgan comes up with some funny one-liners, particularly from the likes of personalities like Alistair Campbell (Mark Bazeley), the Blairs, and the Queen Mother (Sylvia Sims). The humor comes very naturally not only in the words those characters say but also in how they feel. Particularly Cherie Blair's known disdain for the monarchy about her curtsy. There's a lot of fine detail from Morgan's script about what might've gone on and it's truly an amazing screenplay. Especially through Frears' direction where despite a few moments where the film drags, the direction is spot-on through every moment of the film.
Cinematographer Affonso Beato does wonderful work in several of the film's interior settings to create the tense atmosphere of the palace where it's a bit surreal while the exteriors scenes are wonderfully shot. Particularly in the Scottish countryside where it's just amazing while giving the feeling that we’re in that area. Production designer Alan MacDonald with art directors Matthew Broderick (not the actor) and Franck Schwarz in creating the wonderful look of the castle and Buckingham Palace. Costume designer Constola Boyle does great work in the film's costumes with the suits and kilts of the men as well as the clothing of the Queen from her pink bathrobe to the suit she wears in her televised presentation. Makeup artist Daniel Phillips also does great work in bringing the look of both the Queen and Tony Blair where compared to their appearances in real-life, the actors in the make-up look eerily like the characters they're playing.
Editor Lucia Zucchetti does some great work in the editing, particularly using the archival TV footage from around the world including coverage of the funeral and the responses from world leaders as the film plays to a strong historical drama. Sound editor Paul Davies does excellent work in the sound, especially a scene where Charles goes to Paris and sees the body where the sound is turned off. Not only is it a smart decision by Frears but Davies as well for not including any sound. Composer Alexandre Desplat brings an amazing film score filled with chiming, melodic arrangements filled with a large orchestra to convey the sense of drama and movement of the times as Desplat's work is truly one of the best scores of the year.
The film's cast is wonderfully assembled with notable small roles from Douglas Reith as the chaplain Lord Airlie and Tim McMullan as Stephen Lamport. Mark Bazeley is excellent as the snide Alistair Campbell while Roger Allam is superb as the cautious yet loyal Robin Janvrin who advises Blair on how he should approach things. Helen McCrory is wonderful as Cherie Blair with her criticism of the monarchy and her own opinions just like the real Cherie Blair. Sylvia Syms is really good as the Queen Mother, who is the old traditionalist unaware of the new changes as she has a few funny one-liners about how no one tells her anything anymore. Alex Jennings is excellent as Prince Charles in portraying the prince as a father trying to comfort his boys and struggling with his own role in the public eye. James Cromwell is brilliant as Prince Philip, notably for just playing an old wanker who has a disgust towards Diana and the public response. Michael Sheen gives an amazing performance as Tony Blair with his hopes to modernize Britain and his unexpected support of the monarchy as a man who is unaware of how big his role is only to learn, much later on, on what the Queen told him.
Finally, there's Helen Mirren in what has to be one of the greatest performances captured on film. There are times in the film that the performance is strong, we're forgetting that it's Helen Mirren playing the Queen. Yet, Mirren brings a lot of restraint and dignity to the role, it almost becomes a documentary of sorts on whom the Queen might really be like. Mirren is very commanding in every scene she's in as she allows the Queen to be human and have a few funny lines including a scene involving her driving a car through the Scottish highlands. In the end, Mirren brings a performance that is worthy of being called regal and it's a must-see to show the talents and experience of this acclaimed British actress.
The Queen is a remarkable film from Stephen Frears and screenwriter Peter Morgan that features a magnificent performance from Helen Mirren in the titular role. Along with a great supporting cast led by Michael Sheen as Tony Blair, the film is definitely one of Frears' finest films as well as a poignant historical drama about Tony Blair's rise to prominence. In the end, The Queen is an incredible film from Stephen Frears.
Stephen Frears Films: (Gumshoe) - (Afternoon Off) - (Bloody Kids) - (Walter) - (Walter and June) - (December Flower) - (The Hit (1984 film)) - (My Beautiful Launderette) - (Prick Up Your Ears) - (Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door) - (Sammie and Rose Get Laid) - (The Grifters) - (Hero (1992 film)) - (The Snapper) - (Mary Reilly) - (The Van (1996 film)) - (The Hi-Lo Country) - (High Fidelity) - (Liam) - (Fail-Safe (2000 TV film)) - Dirty Pretty Things - (The Deal (2003 TV film)) - (Mrs. Henderson Presents) - (Cheri) - (Tamara Drewe) - (Lay the Favorite) - (Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight) - Philomena
© thevoid99 2014
Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 7/7/07 w/ Additional Edits & Revisions.
Directed by Stephen Frears and written by Steven Knight, Dirty Pretty Things tells the story of a Nigerian doctor who drives a cab by day and works at a hotel at night. His best friend is a Turkish immigrant who is trying to evade the immigration services while working odd jobs. When he learns about a secret operation over kidney sales from immigrants in exchange for passports, he is in shock over what is happening and what is at stake. The film is an exploration into the world of black market operations where people sell body parts for money and passports as it is set entirely in London. Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Audrey Tautou, Sophie Okonedo, Benedict Wong, and Sergi Lopez. Dirty Pretty Things is a suspenseful yet harrowing film from Stephen Frears.
The film is an exploration into the world of black markets where illegal immigrants are forced to swap kidneys to gain passports so they can work in London. Yet, it revolves on a Nigerian immigrant in Okwe (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a German doorman in Ivan (Zlatko Buric), a hooker named Juliette (Sophie Okonedo), and a Turkish maid named Senay (Audrey Tautou) whom he's roommates with as they work in a hotel run by Juan (Sergi Lopez). Upon finding a human heart in a toilet, Okwe learns that there is something going on in the hotels as Senay is being targeted by immigrant officials for being an illegal immigrant. With Okwe trying to help her, his past as a doctor who worked for the Nigerian government comes back to haunt him as he learns about who is running the black markets operation as it plays into this complicated world where people have to survive and live a better life without trouble from the law or from people who are more concerned than profit than human lives.
All of which explores a world that is very dark as Steven Knight's screenplay relies on the structure of suspense as the momentum is built on what's going to happen. The script is really the film's high point in creating characters who aren't stereotypes and such but real people as there's also an unconventional love story of sorts between Okwe and Senay even though they aren't lovers. It adds to something that makes the story feel different in terms of what is expected in a genre film like this while it is clear that the characters in the film are quite flawed. It's often due to the fact that they're driven by the instinct to survive through dire means in a world that doesn't treat immigrants very lightly as Knight's script showcases a part of London that is diverse but also quite chaotic.
Stephen Frears' direction is top notch in creating suspense and intrigue for the story. While it's a bit flawed due to the pacing early in the film, it does pay off with the way it builds momentum as well as the question of morality. Notably, the character of Okwe who is definitely the conscious of sorts in the film which is kind of rare for a protagonist. Even as he is surrounded by a strange group of people including a laid-back hooker, a philosophical doctor, a lively doorman, and Senay. Senay is also interesting since she's a character who has a dream but is often clashing with reality as she realizes how far she has to go. Overall, it's Frears' observant yet stagy direction that creates a very solid drama.
Cinematographer Chris Menges brings a variety of looks to the film from the grayish, desolate look of the film's exterior sequences, notably the immigration, ethnic communities as well as the film interiors. To the more stylish, staged lighting in the film's hotel interior scenes which adds style to the film's unique look. Production designer Hugo Luczyc-Wyhowski and art director Rebecca Holmes create a unique look to the film's locations from the working-class, colorful look in the immigration slums to the polished, posh look of the hotel rooms and hotel lobby. Costume designer Odile Dicks-Mireaux create a nice look to the hotel suits that Juan, Okwe, and Ivan wears as well as the clothes that Juliette wears that isn’t overly revealing or vastly conservative.
Editor Mick Audsley does some excellent work in the film's editing to create suspense and terror that is expected in a genre like a thriller. Yet, Audsley's editing works to convey the manic energy that happens during the third act. Sound editors Mark Auguste and Peter Joly help create suspense with the film's sounds from the cars outside to the noise of the slums with the people surrounding the place. Music composer Nathan Larson creates a chilling score that just doesn't play to the film's suspense but also the drama with collages of guitar melodies and keyboards. The soundtrack mostly consists of Larson's score plus Turkish folk music and a song by David Byrne, formerly of the Talking Heads.
The film's cast is wonderfully assembled, notably for the fact that it's very diverse with people who aren't mostly English actors but rather people from other countries or a certain ethnicity. Smaller roles ranging from Darrell D'Silva as an immigration officer, Kehan Hudaverdi as a cafe` owner, and Barber Ali as the sweatshop owner are memorable in their performances. Benedict Wong is good as Guo Yi, Okwe's hospital friend who often talks forms of philosophy including chess and how the roles of life are often played. Zlatko Buric is brilliant as the comical Ivan who often talks about the good things that are in the hotel world while trying to protect his friends from immigration officers. Sophie Okonedo is good as the hooker Juliette who often flirts with Okwe while letting him know that there's things in the hotel that aren't right as she ends up helping him in his crisis of conscious.
Spanish actor Sergi Lopez is wonderful as Juan aka Sneaky. Lopez doesn't act like a conventional villain but rather a man who believes what he's doing is good, not just for himself but also the people whose lives he claims are saving. It's a wonderfully diabolical role from Lopez who brings charm and wittiness to his character. French actress Audrey Tautou, known for her work with Jean-Pierre Jeunet, is wonderful as Senay. Tautou is amazing in capturing Senay's desires to live a different world while dealing with the realities of what it takes to live a new life. It's a brilliant performance for the French actress who makes her English-language debut in the film as she proves that she can play characters that are dark as opposed to something as light-hearted as in Amelie. Finally, there's Chiwetel Ejiofor in a brilliant performance as the moralistic Okwe. Ejiofor gives a performance that isn't overly dramatic but rather subtle in how he observes everything around him and how tries to do what's right. Though he does wrong in taking stimulants and not being open, it's because his character is trying to evade secrets that won't expose him to authorities as it is Ejiofor at his best.
Dirty Pretty Things is a phenomenal film from Stephen Frears that features great performances from Chiwetel Ejiofor, Audrey Tautou, and Sergi Lopez. The film is definitely one of Frears' finest films in terms of its suspense and exploration into characters in the situations they're in. Especially as it focuses on people who are on the fringes of society as it is told with great respect by screenwriter Steven Knight. In the end, Dirty Pretty Things is a remarkable film from Stephen Frears.
Stephen Frears Films: (Gumshoe) - (Afternoon Off) - (Bloody Kids) - (Walter) - (Walter and June) - (December Flower) - (The Hit (1984 film)) - (My Beautiful Launderette) - (Prick Up Your Ears) - (Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door) - (Sammie and Rose Get Laid) - (The Grifters) - (Hero (1992 film)) - (The Snapper) - (Mary Reilly) - (The Van (1996 film)) - (The Hi-Lo Country) - (High Fidelity) - (Liam) - (Fail-Safe (2000 TV film)) - (The Deal (2003 TV film)) - (Mrs. Henderson Presents) - The Queen (2006 film) - (Cheri) - (Tamara Drewe) - (Lay the Favorite) - (Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight) - Philomena
© thevoid99 2014
Based on the book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by Martin Sixsmith, Philomena is the story about Sixsmith’s friendship with Philomena Lee as he helps find the son that she was forced to give up 50 years ago. Directed by Stephen Frears and screenplay by Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope, the film is a dramatization about a journalist trying to help a woman find where her son is as well as learning about her life story as Coogan plays Sixsmith with Judi Dench as the titular character. Also starring Mare Winningham, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Michelle Fairley, and Barbara Jefford. Philomena is an extraordinary film from Stephen Frears.
The film is a simple story about Martin Sixsmith who decides to help Philomena Lee find her son whom she was forced to give up her son 50 years ago during her time at a convent for getting pregnant as a teenager. While it is a simple story, it is one that is still very interesting where Sixsmith is trying to figure out what to do after losing his job as a government advisor to Tony Blair where he meets Philomena’s daughter Jane (Anna Maxwell Martin) at a party who had just learned what her mother told her. After convincing Sixsmith to take the story so he can do something as a former journalist where he and Philomena travel through Ireland and the U.S. to find out about her son Anthony (Sean Mahon).
The screenplay by Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope does have some unique moments in the narrative along with some very witty dialogue to play into the interaction between Philomena and Sixsmith. Especially as the former is still a Catholic who prays every day while the latter is a former Catholic who has become quite cynical about the idea of religion. Though Sixsmith tries to be patient with Philomena who becomes fascinated by America, he is willing to help her in the search where it would lead to some very big revelations about Anthony. The script also has flashbacks about Philomena’s life as a young woman (Sophie Kennedy Clark) in how she conceived Anthony and the life she had living in the convent where she endured a lot of cruelty. Especially in the third act where she returns to Ireland to meet one of the surviving nuns in Sister Hildegarde (Barbara Jefford) who had put her through some of the worst years of her life.
The direction of Stephen Frears is quite straightforward in the way he presents the drama where he infuses some light-hearted humor that involves a scene in the airport where Philomena tells Sixsmith about a book she just read. Much of the compositions are simple and to the point for the scenes set in London, Ireland, and Washington D.C. Still, Frears does manage to convey some engaging moments like some of the close-ups for some of the film’s dramatic moments where the sense of guilt and loss that Philomena has suffered is shown in her face. Even where the drama can bet heavy but Frears finds a way to not delve into melodrama where he would find a balance between humor and drama. Especially in its climax where it plays into the idea of faith where even through the most terrible circumstances, there is a way to move and find forgiveness. Overall, Frears creates a very compelling film about a woman’s search to find the song she was forced to abandon many years ago.
Cinematographer Robbie Ryan does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography with the look of London and Ireland in its low-key colors including some scenes set in the winter to the more light-colored look of the scenes set in Washington D.C. and other places in the U.S.. Editor Valerio Bonelli does fantastic work with the editing where it‘s pretty straightforward with the exception of some flashback montages and such to play into the drama. Production designer Alan MacDonald, with set decorator Barbara Herman-Skelding and supervising art director Rod McLean, does terrific work with the set pieces from the hotel rooms in Washington that Sixsmith and Philomena stayed in to the convent where the young Philomena stayed.
Costume designer Consolata Boyle does nice work with the costumes as it is mostly low-key and casual with the exception of the flashback scenes in the 1950s. Visual effects supervisor Adam Gascoyne does some fine work with some of the minimal visual effects such as the backdrops for a few scenes in the U.S. Sound editor Oliver Tarney does superb work with the sound for some of the atmosphere in the locations as well as the intimate moments at the convent. The film’s music by Alexandre Desplat is brilliant for its flourishing orchestral score filled with chiming riffs and melodies as it is another of his triumphant pieces.
The casting by Leo Davis and Lissy Holm is amazing for the ensemble that was created as it features some notable small performances from Simone Lahbib as Sixsmith’s wife Kate, Cathy Belton as the convent’s new manager Sister Claire, Wummi Mosaku as the young nun in the modern scenes, Charlie Murphy as the young Philomena’s friend Kathleen who also lost a child to adoption, Sean Mahon as Philomena’s son Anthony, and Peter Herrmann as a friend of Anthony who gives Philomena some vital information. Mare Winningham is wonderful as Anthony’s adopted sister Mary who reveals some tidbits about Anthony while Michelle Fairey is terrific as Sixsmith’s editor who pushes him to get a juicier story. Anna Maxwell Martin is excellent as Philomena’s daughter Jane who would be the person to introduce her mother to Sixsmith as she helps out early on.
Barbara Jefford is great as Sister Hildegarde as this old-school nun who would be very cruel to the young Philomena while she maintains a low-key presence in the scenes set in the early 2000s. Sophie Kennedy Clark is superb as the young Philomena as this young woman who has committed a sin as she tries to redeem herself only to watch her child be taken away from her. Steve Coogan is fantastic as Martin Sixsmith as Coogan brings a more low-key approach to his humor as this cynical and bitter journalist who is just trying to get himself back on track while dealing with this old woman and the story that she’s lived through. Judi Dench is just remarkable as the titular role as she has this very lively woman who is so full of charm only to balance that with a sense of guilt where Dench shows restraint in her dramatic approach as she is a major highlight for the film while having some fun chemistry with Steve Coogan.
Philomena is a marvelous film from Stephen Frears that features incredible performances from Judi Dench and Steve Coogan. The film is truly an engaging story that features a woman trying to find the son she was forced to abandon as well as explore into some of the cruelty of the Catholic church without being too critical. Even as Frears manages to infuse some witty humor courtesy of Coogan and co-screenwriter Jeff Pope. In the end, Philomena is a rich and enchanting film from Stephen Frears.
Stephen Frears Films: (Gumshoe) - (Afternoon Off) - (Bloody Kids) - (Walter) - (Walter and June) - (December Flower) - (The Hit (1984 film)) - (My Beautiful Launderette) - (Prick Up Your Ears) - (Mr. Jolly Lives Next Door) - (Sammie and Rose Get Laid) - (The Grifters) - (Hero (1992 film)) - (The Snapper) - (Mary Reilly) - (The Van (1996 film)) - (The Hi-Lo Country) - (High Fidelity) - (Liam) - (Fail-Safe (2000 TV film)) - Dirty Pretty Things - (The Deal (2003 TV film)) - (Mrs. Henderson Presents) - The Queen (2006 film) - (Cheri) - (Tamara Drewe) - (Lay the Favorite) - (Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight)
© thevoid99 2013
