The Moving Picture

With the best Oscar predictor only a meager two weeks away, Oscar watch continues with its focus on dramas. In that spirit “The Queen” and “The Good Shepherd” are two great dramas worthy of award attention, though they may hold little attraction for anyone but the film connoisseur.
The average moviegoer would likely be bored by these intricate, slow-paced dramas, but film connoisseurs would be pleased by the big screen presentation of these real life tales.
“The Queen,” directed by Stephen Frears, depicts the events in the British royal house at the time of Princess Diana’s death. The title suggests its focus upon Queen Elizabeth II and her decisions, or lack thereof, after the tragic car accident that took the life of the princess and Mohamed Al-Fayed.
However, the film is equally concerned with the rise of Prime Minister Tony Blair. In fact, the film opens on the day he won the election though it begins with the queen’s impressions.
“The Good Shepherd,” directed by Robert DeNiro, chronicles the birth of the CIA and the manner in which it survived its first major misstep, the Bay of Pigs. Starring Matt Damon as the CIA’s lead intelligence officer, this film plods through the events leading up to America’s failure to overthrow communist leader Fidel Castro.
These behind-the-scenes looks at two pivotal historical moments were enough to captivate. However, their slow and persevering movement might have made the task seem dull to an action seeking moviegoer.
On the other hand, both films exhibited excellent acting, intriguing scripts and amazing cinematography. Helen Mirren as the besieged queen of England was riveting, portraying this tight-lipped, emotionally restrained woman with elegance and grace. Mirren captured the emotional sacrifices the queen was forced to make through her 50 years as the head of an empire. She assumed the thrown after watching the crown destroy her father, led the empire through a world war and more difficult times than any single leader in modern history. She was left a seemingly cold, calculating woman defined by formality and tradition. Mirren’s performance allowed none of this to be lost on the audience.
The story of Edward Wilson in “The Good Shepherd” was a tale of similar sacrifices. Caught up in a life he never meant to lead, Wilson sacrificed his soul and humanity for the sake of the United States. Uniquely qualified for the job of intelligence officer with his closely held emotions and thoughts, his career exploited these attributes, leaving him devoid of a human soul and nothing but an intelligence drone. He ended up friendless and even ostracized from his wife and son. His tragic destiny caused the viewer to question imperialism and intelligence gathering in light of the consequences to humanity. Damon portrayed the also tight-lipped, emotionally frigid intelligence officer with a sensitivity worthy of critical attention.
Both roles have earned the actors Golden Globe nods with a Best Actress nomination for Mirren and a Best Actor bid for Damon. However, despite their excellent performances, neither role is exactly worthy of taking home the award. A Best Actor or Actress award should go to a performance which no one other actor could have delivered with such perfect execution. A dozen different actors and actresses could have played the cold queen or the reticent spy. Now an excellent delivery deserves a critical nod, but not necessarily the opportunity to take center stage. With an additional nod from Oscar both Mirren and Damon will have earned all the acclaim their respective performances deserve.
Both Mirren and Damon also owe much of their performances to scripts deserving of critical acclaim. “The Queen” was as funny as it was powerful and as compelling as it was methodical. “The Good Shepherd” was packed full of intrigue and interestingly presented through well-constructed flashbacks and flash-forwards that allowed for little confusion. With such great material to work with neither actor had to reach very far for great performances.
Finally, the cinematography of both “The Queen” and “The Good Shepherd” was as exemplary as both their acting and scripts. The sweeping hills of the royal family’s getaway as well as the shots of Buckingham Palace were as much a character of the film as the queen was herself. The dark alleyways and underground chambers of “The Good Shepherd” said as much about Wilson’s transformation from human being to human spy as the words of the friends and enemies he encountered.
Both of these films are two of this year’s top highlights and are worthy of a viewing. However, if you hunger more for the fast-paced, action adventure, but do not want to miss out on two of 2006’s best films, then rent “The Queen” and “The Good Shepherd.” This way you can move the sedate dramas along at your own pace.