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Starring: Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell, Sylvia Syms, Alex Jennings, Helen McCrory.

Director: Stephen Frears

For a historical drama, this is a surprisingly gripping, and quick moving, film, featuring spectacular performances, particularly by Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth, who won an Oscar and by Michael Sheen, as PM Tony Blair, who was not even nominated. Frears does a wonderful job in blending newsreel footage, simulated newsreel footage and live action seamlessly. Added to Peter Morgan’s expert script, this is an impressive piece of work.

The story opens with the election of Tony Blair and the Queen’s first audience with him. From there we are given a front seat to the elaborate protocol of having a Royal audience. No sooner than this is completed, we’re thrust into the terrible maelstrom of Princess Diana’s death. It is the world’s, and the Royal family’s, reaction, and actions, in the wake of this trying time that is the main thrust of the story. We are given wonderful windows into the writer and filmmaker’s view of the personalities and motivations of several of the Royal family, but of course, particularly of the Queen herself. My own view is that the Royal family comes off looking quite badly, though many disagree.

This was one of the best movies of 2006 and everyone, from their cast, to their director and his crew seem to have performed their jobs at the highest level. Drama fans and admirers of the Royal Family will love it and it will surprise many people who would not have considered this to be their choice of movie.

Director: Philip Kaufman

Starring: Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet, Joaquin Phoenix, Michael Caine

This naughty period piece is another fine example of Geoffrey Rush’s consumate acting skill and garnered him another Oscar nomination (his third…winning one for Shine in 1996)for his portrayal of the Marquis. He has some solid support here as well, with Winslet, Phoenix and Caine all putting in strong work. This film, based Doug Wright’s play and screenplay, may not be to everyone’s taste, however, not only because it is the controversial, true (or kinda true, anyway) story of the Marquis de Sade, but it is also a slow period, though at times titillating piece that will not appeal to everyone. Despite the performances, and subject matter, it didn’t really hold my interest.

The Marquis’ story begins when the twisted, but prolific, writer has already been imprisoned at a mental institution, run by the gentle and compassionate Abbe du Coulmier (Phoenix). The Marquis, with the help of an infactuated laundry girl (Winslet) is still smuggling his writing out of the institution for publication. When its popularity attracts the Emperor’s attention, he dispatches Dr. Royer-Collard (Caine), an expert interrogator and persuader in the true 18th century view of persuasion, to address the situation. Rush’s character is combative and defiant, throughout. The muddled romantic elements are not convincing and despite Kaufman’s best interests, a guy who spends all of his time locked in a room, is just not that interesting.

I didn’t like this movie very much, despite being impressed by the performances. I am not always a fan of period pieces to begin with and, although the sexual content is interesting and amusing at times, it just isn’t enough for me, and I often found my attention wandering during this, my second viewing. Many people like it, but for me the Marquis doesn’t have enough snap in his whip.