"Queen", Mirren buzz

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A guy I know has been told by a guy who's part of the N.Y. Film Festival crew that Stephen Frears' The Queen (Miramax, 9.30 in NYC --10.6 limited) is "the best Frears film since Sammy and Rosie Get Laid and that Helen Mirren is definitely a Best Actress contender" for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth. The film has been given an opening-night (9.29) berth with the N.Y. Film Fest, which means it won't be at Telluride, Venice or Toronto. Journos who won't be attending the Manhattan festival are naturally appealing to Miramax staffers to arrange for screenings sometime this month so everyone will be up to speed.

Toronto special presentations<< previous | next >>"Little Children" to Telluride

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 10, 2006 at 12:22 PM

comment #1

Colin says ...

I am looking forward to this one. Frears' movies are always interesting even when they're not entirely successful (as with Hero, Mary Reilly, and The Hi-Lo Country). I didn't see Mrs. Henderson Presents, though.

The statement about it being his best since Sammy and Rosie seems a bit odd to me, though. I enjoyed Sammy and Rosie, but I preferred The Grifters, High Fidelity, and Dirty Pretty Things. I also found Dangerous Liaisons to be every bit as good as it.

Incidentally, has anyone seen Prick Up Your Ears? I've always meant to check that one out.

Posted by Colin at August 10, 2006 12:54 PM

comment #2

Jason Birzer says ...

You know, there was more than one Queen Elizabeth, so could you please refer to her as Queen Elisabeth II. Sorry, but when someone says Queen Elizabeth, I think of the first. You know, the one who was Henry VIII's daughter? The one who ruled England for many years?

Posted by Jason Birzer at August 10, 2006 12:56 PM

comment #3

Anonymous says ...

I hope "Queen Elizabeth" isn't about Elzabeth II!

Posted by Anonymous at August 10, 2006 12:59 PM

comment #4

Nicol D says ...

Based on the IMDB synopsis, this sounds like one of the more bizarre subject matters for a film I've seen in a long time.

I am not a Frears fan per se and find him very over-rated (Dirty Pretty Things felt very MOW, High Fidelty very cliche etc.)

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how Tony Blair is portrayed on film.

Posted by Nicol D at August 10, 2006 1:18 PM

comment #5

Thung says ...

This is how Anthony Kaufman described The New York Film Festival last year, "about two dozens films from around the globe will get the attention they deserve -- unencumbered by studio junketeering and high-priced acquisitions news.... So it is with the New York Film Festival that audiences and industry- ites can take a step back from celebrity ass-kissing and re-focus their sights on audacious, important and eye-popping foreign cinema." Interesting.

Posted by Thung at August 10, 2006 1:29 PM

comment #6

Dixon Steele says ...

PRICK...is the story of British playwright Joe Orton, who was eventually killed by his jealous boyfriend.

It's very well done with excellent perfs by Gary Oldman as Orton and Alfred Molina as his lover. Also good is V. Redgrave as his agent.

Definitely worth checking out.

Frears best film IMHO is still Dangerous Liasons. Thought last year's Mrs. Henderson was vastly overrated.

Posted by Dixon Steele at August 10, 2006 2:22 PM

comment #7

Thung says ...

Dangerous? Never, too wooden.

Posted by Thung at August 10, 2006 2:34 PM

comment #8

Edward says ...

Trying to picture Helen Mirren in those awful dresses with hats and matching purses. Not a pretty picture, but she's a great actress.

Posted by Edward at August 10, 2006 2:56 PM

comment #9

Anonymous says ...

"Based on the IMDB synopsis, this sounds like one of the more bizarre subject matters for a film I've seen in a long time."

This is a follow on from The Deal a brilliant Tv Film directed by Stephen Fears in the UK and shown on Channel 4. It was made a few years ago about the poltical machinations between Gordon Brown (Chancellor of the Exchequor) and Tony Blair to become Labour Leader...

Its also a chance for Michael Sheen to reprise his brilliant portrayal of Tony Blair...This will be worth seeing!

Posted by Anonymous at August 10, 2006 2:56 PM

comment #10

Adnan Ahmed says ...

"Based on the IMDB synopsis, this sounds like one of the more bizarre subject matters for a film I've seen in a long time."

Its also a chance for Michael Sheen to reprise his brilliant portrayal of Tony Blair...This will be worth seeing!

Posted by Adnan Ahmed at August 10, 2006 2:57 PM

comment #11

bob says ...

How many freakin' Elizabeth movies are there starring Helen Mirren? And is Cate Blanchett going to pale in comparison to Mirren when her Elizabeth sequel comes out?

Posted by bob at August 10, 2006 2:58 PM

comment #12

Liz says ...

...so this guy is completely discounting The Grifters (which came out a few years after Sammy and Rosie)?

Posted by Liz at August 10, 2006 3:00 PM

comment #13

Mike Gebert says ...

To clarify, the Frears film has Mirren as Elizabeth II, the present queen, previously portrayed in one of the Naked Gun movies. She also played Elizabeth I, the one played by Cate Blanchett, Bette Davis and Glenda Jackson, in a recent HBO series.

I look forward to her playing Elizabeth Bathory, Elizabeth Montgomery, and Elizabeth Taylor next.

Posted by Mike Gebert at August 10, 2006 4:12 PM

comment #14

thatmovieguy says ...

Colin: If you haven't seen PRICK UP YOUR EARS, you should definitely track it down. It got mostly great reviews, tanked at the box office and was quickly kicked to the curb by distributor Samuel Goldwyn, which had initially been very high on the film. But it's terrific: sad, funny, sometimes a bit shocking and very informative about the "Swinging London" scene of the 1960s. Oldman, Molina and Redgrave are all sensational, and so is Julie Walters as Orton's mother. If you don't know Joe Orton's work, you will definitely want to learn more about him and his writing after seeing it.

Posted by thatmovieguy at August 10, 2006 4:19 PM

comment #15

Patrick says ...

'PRICK' was average AT BEST! Frears has never
matched 'The Grifters' and I dare say he never
will.

Posted by Patrick at August 10, 2006 4:28 PM

comment #16

Edward says ...

Confusing when Helen Mirren is playing both Queen Elizabeths. Still having trouble with the costuming as Elizabeth II. Better clean my brain with Sex Pistols, "God Bless the Queen."

Posted by Edward at August 10, 2006 4:55 PM

comment #17

thatmovieguy says ...

Patrick: THE GRIFTERS is also great. I loved it when I saw it in 1990 and I enjoyed it just as much when I watched it again on DVD a couple of years ago. (If I ever need to beat someone severely, I will definitely try the oranges in the towel trick!) And LIAISONS is one of the all-time greats, with Close, Malkovich, Pfeiffer and the daisy-fresh Thurman. I'm always surprised Frears hasn't built up more of a following. He has a pretty impressive batting average.

Posted by thatmovieguy at August 10, 2006 7:32 PM

comment #18

Liz says ...

I'd give my right arm (or something along those lines) to see Mirren move on to Elizabeth Bathory next. They're remaking everything else ever made, so why not Daughters of Darkness?

Posted by Liz at August 10, 2006 8:30 PM

comment #19

BL says ...

Oh god, as if PBS doesn't spend ENOUGH time tryingto cram every single detail of every singer member of the royal family's life down the throats of unsuspecting Americans.

Posted by BL at August 10, 2006 11:05 PM

comment #20