The opening night feature at the 44th New York Film Festival, The Queen goes behind giant, gold-crested closed doors to give a revealing look at an all-but useless monarchy in the age of democracy. The new film by Stephen Frears (The Grifters, High Fidelity, Dirty Pretty Things) dramatizes the strained, awkward relationship between Elizabeth II and then-newly elected Prime Minister Tony Blair in the week following the sudden death of Princess Diana back in ‘97. I suppose the mark of a good film, or any piece of art, is its ability to make meaningful that which isn’t necessarily riveting. There aren’t too many things in this world I care less about than the old hag’s handling, or mishandling of Lady Di’s death, and yet, I was fully engrossed in this movie. I guess that’s what you call a success. Helen Mirren, fresh off playing Elizabeth I in some long TV miniseries, is amazing as Liz II, half respecting the royal order, half mocking its unbelievable pomposity.

The Queen plays twice tonight, at 8:15 at Alice Tully Hall and at 9 at Avery Fisher Hall. Expect director and cast, which also includes everyone’s favorite talking pig handler James Cromwell, to be in attendance at Avery Fisher. Mirimax Films is opening the film in NY next Friday.