This week we have a Helen Mirren movie trifecta. I’ll watch anything she is in. I love her style and in some ways it is very similar to mine – not so much the lace but the element of always bringing something unexpected. Is there any role Dame Helen cannot play to perfection? I think not. She brings her A game to every single character she inhabits.

Just because I can, here there are Four Helen Mirrens in the same room, it took me a while at first to work out which was the real one, and I only worked it out because that one moved.

Eye in the Sky

“Col. Katherine Powell, a military officer in command of an operation to capture terrorists in Kenya, sees her mission escalate when a girl enters the kill zone triggering an international dispute over the implications of modern warfare.” IMDB

This movie has a great cast, including our Helen Mirren obviously, Alan Rickman in his last ever on screen role before he passed away – there were two more movies released with just his voice – Barkhad Abdi who has a great tension filled foot chase, plus Aaron Paul who of course I love. The very delightful newcomer actress Aisha Takow plays a young girl trying to sell bread.

This is a tough storyline to watch, with many people discussing whether or not the mission can go ahead. When the politicians get involved of course it becomes even more convoluted. At the moment with all the terror attacks happening, this movie is timely in exploring the issues around taking action before an attack is carried out even if it puts innocent people in danger VS what might happen if the authorities do not act.

Helen Mirren plays a colonel in this movie and she is determined and resolute in her belief of what is the right and necessary thing to do, right now. And had she been listened to at the beginning, things might have turned out very differently. But then this would not have been much of a movie.

I do recommend this movie if you are looking for something to make you think and of course if you are a fan of any of the cast you will enjoy it, the performances are excellent. I would give it 7 wax Helen Mirrens out of 10 because she is part of an ensemble cast here but she is quite a big part of it.

Woman in Gold

“Maria Altmann, an octogenarian Jewish refugee, takes on the Austrian government to recover artwork she believes rightfully belongs to her family.” IMDB

Best to have apple strudel on hand because early on in this film when Helen Mirren serves some to an incredibly dorky version of Ryan Reynolds, you will want some. Who knew it was possible to make Ryan Reynolds not drop dead gorgeous?

When this movie takes off, it takes the viewer places I did not quite expect to go. This is why I love movies overall – when you start the film you do not expect or know what you will see and how you will feel. This particular movie had me experiencing almost all the emotions in less than 2 hours and the ending definitely requires Kleenex.

This is a very difficult movie to watch, especially the flashback scenes of Austria when the Nazis took over. This movie will probably make you angry. Having said that, the performances are – as one would expect – excellent. In the flashback scenes Tatiana Maslany plays the younger version of Helen Mirren’s character and it is amazing how alike they actually look, I had never realised it before. Max Irons is also in the movie, long a favourite actor of mine.

In the middle of the movie the tension ratchets up to almost unbearable levels when in flashback Maria and Fritz make a run for it, which may have you reaching for the Google to find out the outcome but do not do it, no matter what. Let the movie tell you this story. Like any movie there is more to the real life story than what you see in the film and once you have finished watching, then you may google. :)

The levels of love that I have for this movie are so high, even though it made me ugly cry. Wow, that rhymes! Added bonus, it features the airport from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as a shooting location. I strongly recommend this one and would give it 10 wax Helen Mirrens out of 10 because she truly is the star of this movie.

State of Play

“When a congressional aide is killed, a Washington D.C. journalist starts investigating the case involving the congressman, his old college friend.” IMDB

This is one of the older movies in my to-be-watched directory, released in 2009. It is an adaptation of the 2003 BBC One miniseries which I had enjoyed and the cast of the adaptation is somewhat spectacular. Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, Robin Wright, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels just to give you an overview.

I really enjoyed this movie, every single cast member brought their A game, even Russell Crowe and Ben Affleck who I can usually do without. Rachel McAdams really saved this one for me, I am such a fan of hers since Morning Glory.

It makes me want to go back and watch the original, which I probably will do over the next few weeks. That one had Bill Nighy and David Morrissey who is probably best known now for his role as The Governor in The Walking Dead.

I would give it 4 wax Helen Mirrens out of 10 because she is in this movie but not as much as she could have been though when you do see her it is well worth the price of admission.