If you fancy a spot of tea in the late afternoon, or you tend to sit a little straighter when you hear “God Save the Queen,” then you owe it to yourself to see “The Queen.” This spectacular movie has been nominated for six Academy Awards, including the coveted Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Director categories. Do not miss it.

From the opening moments of the film, Helen Mirren completely transforms herself into Queen Elizabeth II. Not only has she been made up to look exactly like the Queen, but she has also captured her demeanor, her walk, her diction and style of talking, and most importantly, her spirit. All Royalists will celebrate.

Set in the days just after the tragic death of Princess Diana, the film investigates the emotional chaos that ensued. The British nation, as was the world, is awash in grief. Newly elected Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) buffets the storm that occurs when the royal family, and the Queen in particular, fails to make an appearance or issue a public statement.

TBlair steps in on more than one occasion to “manage” the Queen. Played with a good dash of boyish charm, Sheen imbues the role with far more energy and charm than we’re used to seeing in Blair lately. (The war has taken its toll?)

The film has sympathetic leanings toward the Queen. As she points out to Mr. Blair, he’s her tenth prime minister. Her first was Winston Churchill. She takes her reign very, very seriously and demonstrates little patience when the British press leads an attack against what they perceive as the royal family’s stunted emotional response to the tragedy.

From where the Queen sits, the royal family has a responsibility to the young princes who’ve just lost their mother. She explains her refusal to appear in London and retreat to the Scottish highlands as a way to give the boys time to grieve in private. More importantly, it’s clear that Elizabeth is operating on assumptions about “keeping a stiff upper lip” that have been synonymous with British sensibilities since World War II. Unfortunately, it appears that now she’s misjudged her people.

Mirren brings real compassion to this heavy role, and it goes far beyond what one might expect from a film that deconstructs such recent history. This version of Elizabeth II’s reaction and the British press’s interpretation of it underscores the complexity of being Queen. At the same time it humanizes her and all the members of the royal family.

Maybe, just maybe, it really is good to be Queen.

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language