Directed by:
Shekhar KapurScreenplay:
Michael HirstCinematography:
Remi AdefarasinComposer:
David HirschfelderCast:
Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes, Christopher Eccleston, Richard Attenborough, Rod Culbertson, Jamie Foreman, Edward Hardwicke, Fanny Ardant (more)VOD (4)
Plots(1)
Before the Golden Age, Elizabeth was a passionate and naïve girl who came to reign over a land divided by bloody turmoil. Amidst palace intrigues and attempted assassinations, the young Queen is forced to become a cunning strategist while weighing the counsel of her mysterious advisors, thwarting her devious rivals, and denying her own desires for the good of her country. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (6)
I have always loved period dramas clad in beautiful costumes, complete with amazing hairstyles and full of spectacular music. And Queen Elizabeth is a prime example. Here we follow the period from the accession to the throne of this unique and great monarch, and the plot takes us through the many pitfalls and life dramas that this admirable woman had to go through. The tribulations of war, conspiracy and relationships are played out. I have to praise the impeccable costumes and hairstyles, the perfectly placed camera, the amazing music and the overall production design. And then, of course, the incredible performances by Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush (that guy really scares the shit out of me). In short, a proper film with all the right stuff, but despite all that I can't give it a full score and I can't say exactly why.
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A great historical film that could have easily been longer and could have dissected some of the events more, because I could definitely stand to see it. Cate Blanchett is the best Elizabeth I that I have ever seen in a film, Geoffrey Rush is the perfect choice for the Walsingham as this film shows us, and Richard Attenborough or Joseph Fiennes as well. I really liked the pleasant direction, the eye-pleasing cinematography, the music playing nicely in my ears and above all the absolutely flawless costumes. Thanks to all this, I was able to rise above many of the mistakes that hit me on the nose (William Cecil, R. Attenborough's character, was not even 40 years old when Elizabeth came to the throne, the Queen knew about Dudley's wife, the fact that Walsingham was involved in the death of Marie de Guise is probably complete fiction... etc.) and enjoy the film. Four and a half.
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If I had seen this film at the time it was made, it probably would have made a bigger impression on me. As it is, for me, it's just a good period drama that adheres to historical elements, but above all, it seeks to depict one of the most distinctive queens in British history. Cate Blanchett literally exudes strength, which has transferred into the character. This was definitely well done, but historical films just aren't quite my cup of tea.
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The opening with an execution by burning already gives the impression of an extraordinary experience. The visual imagination of Indian director Shekhar Kapur is very much in evidence. My favourite actress Cate Blanchett gives a riveting performance as Queen Elizabeth, rightfully nominated for an Oscar. If, like me, you enjoy smart historical dramas, Elizabeth is an obvious choice. And on a side note, there’s something even for football fans. One of the bigger roles is played (and quite well, it has to be said) by the legendary Manchester United striker Eric Cantona :o)
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A film that may be historically faithful and elaborate in terms of costumes, but getting into the story through Shekhar Kapur's directorial style is rather challenging. There are few historical films that don’t have a great battle or fatal love as their central theme, and Elizabeth is one of those. It describes the golden age of England in a "documentary" style, and if it weren't for the phenomenal Cate Blanchett, there wouldn’t be any emotional connection to the story's substance and characterization. In other words, it is an uninteresting reconstruction of an important piece of European history, without a bigger budget, i.e. without a proper visual signature, with characters that, with the exception of the Cate and Daniel Craig in an atypical role, doesn’t deliver much entertainment for those two hours, nor does it offer the feast for the eyes you’d expect in an historical drama. So maybe a must for a film journal.
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