Elizabeth: A Portrait in Part(s)

“This is quite a disappointing documentary. It seems based largely on the "Elizabeth R" documentary Eddie Mirzoeff made for the BBC back in 1992, only it creates a more episodic rather than chronological narrative - and that misses just as frequently as it hits. It features the standard list of royal hangers-on, past and present: folks who have made their living pontificating about a lady (and her family) that they have almost certainly never met, accompanied by a script that offers us an unchallenging essay on this most iconic of 20th century figures. Of course, the fact that the Queen doesn't give interviews makes it difficult to offer any differing insights - but that is hardly a last-minute revelation so we are really just presented with some oft-seen archive and chat about just about everything but HM herself. It is watchable, but sadly this lacks for much that might make it remarkable or memorable. Pity.”