Elizabeth: The Golden Age
(B- or 2.5/4 stars)
'The Golden Age' is a historical drama directed by Shekhar Kapur. Elizabeth (Cate Blanchett, in her reprisal role) is Protestant, Spain's Prince Philip II (Jordi Molla) is Catholic. Her rule is challenged by him, and by Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots (a great Samantha Morton). With his armada, Philip is determined to restore England to Catholicism. And although Elizabeth is troubled by her minions, her undermen, & being lovesick (for Sir Walter Raleigh, played by Clive Owen), she knows that defeating Philip & saving England is her 1st God-given priority. The cinematography, costumes, wigs, & set designs are gorgeous. The pace of the film is brisk & exciting. Cate Blanchett is regal, as ever. But most of the male characters are underdeveloped. And the movie's plot felt quite truncated.
1585: Elizabeth is stressed. Not only is England in a state of monetary/political/agricultural turmoil, but every Catholic resident of England is deemed a potential assassin to her. When the Pope declares a holy war against a Protestant Elizabeth, it is Spain's Prince Philip who hopes to supplant 'E' with her own cousin, Mary Stuart (imprisoned, and scheming to get rid of Elizabeth, for good). Once (and if) that plan falls through, he would unleash his army/navy upon British waters as a final blow. All the while, Elizabeth has a hand-full in her own castle. Her advisors, including the ever-faithful Sir Francis (Geoffrey Rush) are hoping for the Virgin Queen to marry. She rejects all her suitors (including the impressionable young Archduke of Austria) but soon finds herself falling for a confident 'pirate', Sir Walter Raleigh (who's just returned from discovering Virginia). Though she's sworn her body & soul to her country, she is also a red-blooded woman.
However ... Raleigh's also caught the eye of E's principal lady-in-waiting, 'Bess' Throckmorton (a cute Abbie Cornish). When 'E' gets word that something is going on btwn. the 2 of them, she explodes with rage (she vents; as all other troubles are mounting on her slim shoulders). Another of these troubles includes her torment over having made an ill-advised, self-deplorable decision to send Mary Stuart to the executioner (it is Francis who uncovers her treachery). So, with Spain quickly approaching (and England facing defeat), 'E' gathers herself, puts on her armor, heads off on horseback to 'rah-rah-sis-boom-bah' her troops, and with the help of Walter Raleigh and some awful weather, she cripples the powerful armada back to a dispassionate Spain. 'This' is all completely factual; truly amazing.
Blanchett works her magic once again. Whether she's cheekily disregarding suitors, chuckling with her ladies-of-the-court, caught in vulnerable moments with Raleigh, giving a verbal thrashing ("I, too, can command the winds, there is a Hurricane in me that would strip Spain Bare!!"), or lamenting over family betrayal (killing Mary), Blanchett BECOMES Elizabeth once the corsets tie, and the cameras roll. Also notably impressive are the unique camera angles/shots used throughout the film. Sometimes the centering is off, sometimes we're seeing 3/4 of something that would ordinarily be seen in full shot, etc. The costumes/make-up/hair/sets are all fabulous; though, they are SO ornate that they actually take away from some scenes (you're focusing on those lush intricacies, rather than the dialogue).
Here are some other problems: In reality, 'E' would have been in her mid-50's at the time of the Spanish armada (not a plot-purposeful mid-30's). In reality, Sir Walter Raleigh was 20-some yrs. younger than 'E', and was far from looking as dashing as, one, Clive Owen. Also, while Owen's Raleigh swashbuckles, swings from ropes, & escapes the treacherous sea, in reality, he never left land during the armada (in which some surprising Brit ships - set aflame - went slamming into the Spanish vessels). Aside from these historical inaccuracies, the film also jammed way too much in to its 115 minute border. While the movie thrillingly flies by, no less than 5 subplots are touched upon, but never expand into anything overly informative. Because of this, 'The Golden Age' feels more hollow than it should.
1585: Elizabeth is stressed. Not only is England in a state of monetary/political/agricultural turmoil, but every Catholic resident of England is deemed a potential assassin to her. When the Pope declares a holy war against a Protestant Elizabeth, it is Spain's Prince Philip who hopes to supplant 'E' with her own cousin, Mary Stuart (imprisoned, and scheming to get rid of Elizabeth, for good). Once (and if) that plan falls through, he would unleash his army/navy upon British waters as a final blow. All the while, Elizabeth has a hand-full in her own castle. Her advisors, including the ever-faithful Sir Francis (Geoffrey Rush) are hoping for the Virgin Queen to marry. She rejects all her suitors (including the impressionable young Archduke of Austria) but soon finds herself falling for a confident 'pirate', Sir Walter Raleigh (who's just returned from discovering Virginia). Though she's sworn her body & soul to her country, she is also a red-blooded woman.
However ... Raleigh's also caught the eye of E's principal lady-in-waiting, 'Bess' Throckmorton (a cute Abbie Cornish). When 'E' gets word that something is going on btwn. the 2 of them, she explodes with rage (she vents; as all other troubles are mounting on her slim shoulders). Another of these troubles includes her torment over having made an ill-advised, self-deplorable decision to send Mary Stuart to the executioner (it is Francis who uncovers her treachery). So, with Spain quickly approaching (and England facing defeat), 'E' gathers herself, puts on her armor, heads off on horseback to 'rah-rah-sis-boom-bah' her troops, and with the help of Walter Raleigh and some awful weather, she cripples the powerful armada back to a dispassionate Spain. 'This' is all completely factual; truly amazing.
Blanchett works her magic once again. Whether she's cheekily disregarding suitors, chuckling with her ladies-of-the-court, caught in vulnerable moments with Raleigh, giving a verbal thrashing ("I, too, can command the winds, there is a Hurricane in me that would strip Spain Bare!!"), or lamenting over family betrayal (killing Mary), Blanchett BECOMES Elizabeth once the corsets tie, and the cameras roll. Also notably impressive are the unique camera angles/shots used throughout the film. Sometimes the centering is off, sometimes we're seeing 3/4 of something that would ordinarily be seen in full shot, etc. The costumes/make-up/hair/sets are all fabulous; though, they are SO ornate that they actually take away from some scenes (you're focusing on those lush intricacies, rather than the dialogue).
Here are some other problems: In reality, 'E' would have been in her mid-50's at the time of the Spanish armada (not a plot-purposeful mid-30's). In reality, Sir Walter Raleigh was 20-some yrs. younger than 'E', and was far from looking as dashing as, one, Clive Owen. Also, while Owen's Raleigh swashbuckles, swings from ropes, & escapes the treacherous sea, in reality, he never left land during the armada (in which some surprising Brit ships - set aflame - went slamming into the Spanish vessels). Aside from these historical inaccuracies, the film also jammed way too much in to its 115 minute border. While the movie thrillingly flies by, no less than 5 subplots are touched upon, but never expand into anything overly informative. Because of this, 'The Golden Age' feels more hollow than it should.