Here’s a perceptive review of THE QUEEN, surely the best political film of the year. Queen Elizabeth and Prime Minister Tony Blair actually make each other better and discover what they share in common, despite their great differences in style, class background, and political opinion. And their shared political responsibility fends off the challenge of the popular but empty "humanitarian" compassion
of and for the celebrity Diana.
It was a very, very good film; one of the best I’ve seen in a while. Mirren is sweeping awards all over Hollywood (as well as the British versions of our awards). I predict her to be nominated for and win the Oscar for best actress. It will probably, in my opinion, be a showdown between The Queen and The Departed for best film at the Academy Awards, with the Queen favored to win. It was just a good movie all-around.
I have apparently underestimated Babel, which I saw and thought was worthy of being nominated for best picture but not actually winning it.