Elizabeth (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
1553, England: King Henry VIII has died. In steps his sick son Edward to take the throne. He dies. In steps his daughter, Mary (Kathy Burke), a childless Catholic. Under her reign, Protestants (heretics, in layman's terms) are being burned to death at the stake. But Mary soon falls ill and knows that her 25 yr. old Protestant half-sister, Elizabeth (Cate Blanchett) is next in line for her throne. Though Elizabeth has nothing to do with a recent Protestant uprising, nor any intentions of usurping the crown, Mary calls Elizabeth in on charges of treason. In front of her half-sister, Elizabeth denies Mary's wish for her to uphold the Catholic faith; sending Mary into an irreparable illness. Mary dies. And a young Elizabeth is thrust unto the throne. England is angry, sick, & unorganized. Protestant's are still burning. The Pope (John Gielgud) declares the new Queen a heretic ... damn. And Elizabeth is forced to convince her nation of her monarchial worth.
To ensure/assure stability, she must establish a formal Protestant Church of England (to thwart the Catholic heathens), marry a suitable husband, & produce a worthy heir. Unfortunately for Elizabeth, that husband cannot be her lover, Lord Robert Dudley (passionate Joseph Fiennes), as he is not 'suitable'. The rest of the plot of this film involves Elizabeth's many court advisors trying to persuade & dissuade her to making the best possible decisions for her, her people, & England. William Cecil & Francis Walsingham (Richard Attenborough, Geoffrey Rush) are her strongest allies. But the treasury is dry. The army is non-existent. France's Mary of Guise (Fanny Ardant) is planning an attack of England. The Duke of Norfolk (Christopher Eccleston) wants her dead. So who can she trust when danger lurks around nearly every corner, not only of her own palace ... but of her vast country?
'Elizabeth', directed by Shekhar Kapur, is one Hell of a ride. Not only is it a history lesson & a melodrama of palace intrigue ... but it's also a fine political thriller; what with all the byzantine plots to undo the Queen. I highly doubt that everything on display in the film is 100% factual, but boy does it make for an entertaining, soapy 2 hours. I mean, and I've said this before, how can we possibly know exactly what went on 450 yrs. ago anyway. If you want it dry, read about Elizabeth in a book. I like it juicy. So you gotta have a little fun with the facts. Now, the story does go a little overboard, at times; becoming both needlessly confusing & convoluted. The ending could have been a bit tighter, too. But I really enjoyed a good deal of what I saw.
Cate Blanchett is a revelation as Elizabeth. She looks like how we think Elizabeth would look. She sounds like an Elizabeth. And she acts like Elizabeth. Though fiery & determined, she also shows an incredibly vulnerable side. Cate breathes life into the role. If nothing else jives with you, Blanchett's multi-dimensional performance WILL. Geoffrey Rush is stellar as Walsingham. He just seems to be the perfect actor for that kind of role. And Christopher Eccleston is a great 16th century 'villain', so to speak -- it's all in the face. French actress Fanny Ardant leaves an impression. And leave it to master thespian John Gielgud to give the Pope a quite malevolent nature. On a technical level, 'Elizabeth' thrives: authentic period costumes, gorgeous production design, great make-up work, brilliant use of color, & a great music score. Combined with stellar acting, involving romance, & an intriguing (if almost nutty) plot, 'Elizabeth' gives us quality entertainment in spades.
To ensure/assure stability, she must establish a formal Protestant Church of England (to thwart the Catholic heathens), marry a suitable husband, & produce a worthy heir. Unfortunately for Elizabeth, that husband cannot be her lover, Lord Robert Dudley (passionate Joseph Fiennes), as he is not 'suitable'. The rest of the plot of this film involves Elizabeth's many court advisors trying to persuade & dissuade her to making the best possible decisions for her, her people, & England. William Cecil & Francis Walsingham (Richard Attenborough, Geoffrey Rush) are her strongest allies. But the treasury is dry. The army is non-existent. France's Mary of Guise (Fanny Ardant) is planning an attack of England. The Duke of Norfolk (Christopher Eccleston) wants her dead. So who can she trust when danger lurks around nearly every corner, not only of her own palace ... but of her vast country?
'Elizabeth', directed by Shekhar Kapur, is one Hell of a ride. Not only is it a history lesson & a melodrama of palace intrigue ... but it's also a fine political thriller; what with all the byzantine plots to undo the Queen. I highly doubt that everything on display in the film is 100% factual, but boy does it make for an entertaining, soapy 2 hours. I mean, and I've said this before, how can we possibly know exactly what went on 450 yrs. ago anyway. If you want it dry, read about Elizabeth in a book. I like it juicy. So you gotta have a little fun with the facts. Now, the story does go a little overboard, at times; becoming both needlessly confusing & convoluted. The ending could have been a bit tighter, too. But I really enjoyed a good deal of what I saw.
Cate Blanchett is a revelation as Elizabeth. She looks like how we think Elizabeth would look. She sounds like an Elizabeth. And she acts like Elizabeth. Though fiery & determined, she also shows an incredibly vulnerable side. Cate breathes life into the role. If nothing else jives with you, Blanchett's multi-dimensional performance WILL. Geoffrey Rush is stellar as Walsingham. He just seems to be the perfect actor for that kind of role. And Christopher Eccleston is a great 16th century 'villain', so to speak -- it's all in the face. French actress Fanny Ardant leaves an impression. And leave it to master thespian John Gielgud to give the Pope a quite malevolent nature. On a technical level, 'Elizabeth' thrives: authentic period costumes, gorgeous production design, great make-up work, brilliant use of color, & a great music score. Combined with stellar acting, involving romance, & an intriguing (if almost nutty) plot, 'Elizabeth' gives us quality entertainment in spades.