Helen Mirren commands the screen playing a befuddled and cold Elizabeth II who faces a huge crisis when her daughter in law Princess Diana dies. While Mirren is a scene-stealer in the hit film, there are other fine performances, especially by Michael Sheen as Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Director Stephen Frears triumphs because the film is not really judgmental. In fact the film, which is actually a docudrama, offers vantage points of the royal family as well as Labour Party leader Blair. The movie, which has grossed an impressive $28 million in North America, could have a new lease of life if Mirren gets an Oscar nomination.

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