The Queen - Stephen Frears

Have watched this movie twice now - once while baby-sitting the adorable Freddy and then at a BAFTA screening at Chez Butch. Wasn't too surprised that HM bagged so many awards, the transformation is startling and complete. HRH should be really chuffed that her image has been given such a sexy injection with HM. But, (and there's always one on this blog) - the humor and the oddity of the family and it's place in the British public's consciousness is debated and but never really taken apart. Yes, there's the cry that the Queen represents all things quintessentially 'British' stoicism, tradition, stiff-upper lip etc but I everyone else in the world sees the British monarchy as a huge pantomime, glossed up figures behind a glass showcase. At times, the movie felt as if it owed a debt to the Spiltting Image series, Philip ranting about how the 'Tea's gone cold'. In essence the popularity of the film just shows how fascinated people are by the idea of monarchy - when will this nation get to grips with modernity and step closer towards a republic!