Elizabeth (Wide Screen) > Reviews > Long May She Reign

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Standard
How does it compare to similar films?	Outstanding

Advantages:	Excellent perfomances, stunning costumes and sets
Disadvantages:	The historical inaccuracies, over romanticised in places

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Elizabeth has to be one of the most sumptuous costume dramas of recent times. Based on the ascension of Queen Elizabeth I to the English throne and the earlier years of her reign it is visually stunning, packed wall to wall with world class performances and drama. But?.

Before reviewing the film in its own right there is a but. This film has taken a huge scoop of artistic licence with the story and for those with an interest in Elizabethan history it will probably annoy you beyond compare at times. I would class my knowledge of this era as so-so but even I could see glaring distractions from what history tells us. Of course there is no law that says film has to depict situations as fact, or what we think we think to be fact; this could lead to some very dull films in deed. However, I did feel that this film had crossed that line a little to far. When viewed with this in mind the film is a powerful representation of the feeling of the times if not the facts. Therefore I would recommend you don't watch this film as a way of revising for your history exam but do watch it for a feeling of the atmosphere of Tudor England - it may help you look at those dull history books with new eyes!

Cate Blanchett's portrayal of Queen Elizabeth is superb, wonderfully enhanced by intricate detail to costume and make up. The personal aspect of her life is mainly represented by her relationship with Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. A friend since childhood it has been assumed that Dudley was a genuine love of the Queen and there is much conjecture that she wished to marry him. The relationship between herself and Dudley, (played by Joseph Fiennes) is heavily romanticised. Dudley is far too often portrayed as a love sick puppy often on the verge of a lover's tantrum. I would like to have seen a little more power behind the Dudley character. History tells us that he was married in his late teens therefore whether the Queen wished to marry him or not came a secondary matter. And for real scandal his wife was found dead with a broken neck at the bottom of the stairs which lead to much court gossip and sealed the decision that the Queen could never marry a man who's character was so slurred. None of this is mentioned in the film and I can't help but feel it would have added to the atmosphere. The film-makers seemed so set on portraying the political and scandalous wrangling of the era it confuses me as to why they were so happy to 'fiddle' parts of the story for the sake of drama yet steadfastly ignore wonderful dramatic plots history placed right under their noses!

These quibbles aside and looking at is as purely a film there is little to criticise. The film depicts the grandiose nature of the times wonderfully and is highly atmospheric. There is a great sense of the political and religious intrigue and backstabbing (sometimes literally!) of the era. Everyone is permanently on edge as the balance of power ebbs and flows - greatly influenced by the Catholic-Protestant divide. Set in the centre of this is Queen Elizabeth and the film shows how she develops from a frightened teenager with a flair for public speaking to a capable and confident leader.

The supporting cast of plotters and would be successors is superb. Those particularly worth a mention are Geoffrey Rush as the Queens loyal but brutal supporter Sir Francis Walsingham and Christopher Eccleston as scheming pretender to the throne the Duke of Norfolk. Both are strong character actors who are utterly convincing as leading players in this most political of games.

A strong and stirring soundtrack adds to the often dark and dangerous atmosphere. The film moves on at great speed and never feels stagnant. At the end, when the Queen faces her demons and dedicates her whole being to her country, seemingly at the cost of her own happiness, there is the feeling we have only just come to the beginning of the story.

I personally feel it was bordering on criminal to voerlook Cate Blanchett for the Best Actress Oscar in favour of the weeping Paltrow. Her performance is rock solid throughout.

And certainly I cannot write this opinion without praising director Shekhar Kapur the Indian born film maker who took to film making after becoming disillusioned with his chosen career accountancy. Accountancy's loss is film making gain. Kapur captures the dark and sumptous nature of the time and also captures the feeling of space and distance that must have existed in those times.

For a film of feeling and emotion it is wonderful and will no doubt stir interest in even the most history shy viewer. When costume/historical drama is done well I find it one of the most entertaining genres available and in those terms this film is a must see. Five stars as a film, I will turn a blind eye to historical inaccuracies this time on the grounds that it does stir the emotions so well.