Helen Mirren paints a more than believable portrait of the woman who is Queen Elizabeth II. She captures the grace and reserve, of course, but also allows for perhaps a bit of understanding and the thought that despite the cliché of the royal "we," (as in the saying "we are not amused") the queen may indeed often be amused. There are chinks in the armor of the monarchy and Britons and most others around the world lashed out when it seemed that the Royal family was heartless in its response to the shocking death of Diana, "The People’s Princess," in a car crash in Paris, on August 30, 1997.

Ms. Mirren got a five-minute standing ovation when she won as best actress at the Venice Film Festival for this role, and there’s Academy Award buzz. Stephen Frears was honored as best director in Venice, and Peter Morgan’s screenplay was tops as well. Frears directed "Dirty Pretty Things," "Dangerous Liaisons" and "The Grifters." Peter Morgan wrote the screenplay for "The Last King of Scotland," in theaters currently and features an Oscar worthy performance by Forest Whitaker as Idi Amin.

The film focuses on the public and private media and government relations between the queen and the new Prime Minister, Tony Blair, played with everyman charisma by Michael Sheen, elected just three months prior to Diana’s death. The two are working towards a workable solution to their different views of life and governance. This is complicated by the none-too-subtle dislike that Blair’s wife, Cherie (a delightful performance by Helen McCrory) has for the monarchy. She refers to them as "…freeloading, elitist, nutters." When she is presented to the Queen, Cherie’s half-hearted curtsy is priceless, but matched by Helen Mirren’s oh-so-subtle reaction to it.

When Diana dies, Queen Elizabeth wants her funeral to be a small, private affair. After all, she was no longer married to Prince Charles (played with familiar ineffectual pallor by Alex Jennings). Though Charles right away wants to go to Paris and fly Diana back to England aboard the Royal jet, the Queen at first refuses but she later relents. The fresh air at Balmoral and hunting will do William and Harry good, according to the queen and Prince Philip, portrayed by James Cromwell as a stickler for protocol.

Meanwhile, the people and the tabloids grow agitated as the Royal family fails to acknowledge how deeply Diana was loved. They show no emotion or caring. Tony Blair, who is embraced by the media and the public, advises the queen to soften her approach to the people’s loss. And Queen Elizabeth tells Blair that one day "…bad headlines might happen to you." Ironic, since that same populace now calls for Blair to step down.

This is one of the best pictures of the year. Don’t miss it.