I love the movie 'Elizabeth'. It is quite interesting -- dramatic, well-acted, well-scripted, and just the right amount of intrigue and suspense for my taste. The characterisations of Elizabeth, Sussex, Sir William, Walsingham, and Robert Dudley are well done. What a pity that this is largely a work of fiction.
I sometimes have a major 'beef' with movies of this sort; not at all the movie's fault, to be sure -- the tendency on the part of the public, who has not read, and will not bother to read afterward, the history of England during the Tudor period, to see which parts are based on fact, and which parts are dramatic license. From the very start of the film, I knew that this would be largely a fictional dramatisation -- upon the death of Henry VIII, in the credits, Mary assumes the throne. What happened to the poor boy King Edward? We skipped an entire reign! To say nothing of Lady Jane Grey. Of course, she had her own movie (also one of great liberty from the actual historical events)...
The country was torn between Catholic and Protestant sentiments, as the film suggests, but these were not so neatly resolved as the film suggests (and in fact continue to this day to beset the Church of England, now a small minority of religious in England, with problems); Elizabeth, because she would not proclaim allegiance to the Catholic faith unreservedly, had a difficult time finding a bishop to perform the coronation (she had in the end the bishop of Carlisle). This is not included in the film, although certainly the opposition of bishops was chronicled.
In this film, all of the intrigues that beset Elizabeth are collapsed and promulgated in the character of a few (Spanish, French, and Papist agents), and all at the beginning of her reign. In fact, Elizabeth was in the process of securing her throne throughout most of her reign. The love affair with Lord Robert Dudley is most likely true in fact, if not in the form presented here. Walsingham was in fact her trusted ally; the bishops were in fact a problem caste. Sussex, the Lord Chamberlain as the plotter for the throne is an interesting detail -- to this day, the descendants of Sussex continue as Lords Chamberlain, and remain Roman Catholics, and must petition the Pope regularly to continue in their duties regarding the British monarch (a permission never denied, largely being politically ceremonial without much religious content).
Perhaps the best facets of this film are in the mood, or style of the film. Going from uncertainty to certainty, growing in confidence and ability, going from being a girl who would be queen to a formidable woman who reigns, this is presented well in the space of a few hours. The settings, dark and medieval, not yet reflecting the glory of renaissance England which was about to be born under Elizabeth's reign; the costumes elaborate and strangely modern and medieval simultaneously (as is the story!) -- these things combine to make a great movie of power and intrigue. It is only near the end that we see the Gloriana, the primary Elizabethan figure that we've come to expect in presentation.
The equation of the Virgin Queen with the Virgin Mary is an interesting one, at the conclusion of the film, as Elizabeth becomes wedded to England. In fact, she had many suitors (many of whom lost their heads over her, literally), and the idea of 'virgin' is a rather different one today than during Elizabeth's time. Of course, the Tudors were always a rather randy bunch, and Elizabeth was in many ways, as she proclaimed in her own words, 'my father's daughter'. In the end, Elizabeth remains the only unmarried monarch of marriage-able age since William Rufus, son of William the Conqueror.
The musical score, haunting and suspenseful, meditative and sombre, and finally triumphant, is memorable, but is in fact better experienced apart from the film, where the imagery and dialogue often overpowers the music.
Acting is masterful, astutely played by Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush (who was nominated for the Academy Award for another Elizabethean period movie, Shakespeare in Love), Joseph Fiennes (who played Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love), and Richard Attenborough. John Gielgud has a brief cameo appearance as the pope, but alas is fairly inconsequential in this film.
The film is directed by Shekhar Kapur (who directed 'The Four Feathers' a few years later) and stars Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth (who, the year before, starred with another Fiennes brother in the film 'Oscar and Lucinda'). Other key figures around Elizabeth include Queen Mary Tudor (Kathy Burke) and Sir William Cecil (Richard Attenborough), suitor Robert Dudley (Joseph Fiennes), the Duke of Norfolk (Christopher Eccleston). High marks go to the portrayal of Sir Francis Walsingham (Geoffrey Rush), as the resolutely loyal and clever 'minister for intelligence'. Rush and Blanchett were both recognised for their achievements in this film; Blanchett was nominated for the Oscar and won the Golden Globe, while Rush won the BAFTA award.
Soccer fans will recognise Eric Cantona in his English-film debut, albeit in a role as a Frenchman. It is rumoured that he was included at the request of other stars who were Manchester United fans.
In the end, 'Elizabeth' is a victorious movie.
----------------- Cast -----------------
Cate Blanchett.... Elizabeth I Geoffrey Rush.... Sir Francis Walsingham Joseph Fiennes.... Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester Christopher Eccleston.... Duke of Norfolk Richard Attenborough.... Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghley Fanny Ardant.... Mary of Guise Vincent Cassel.... Duc d'Anjou Kathy Burke.... Queen Mary Tudor Terence Rigby.... Bishop Gardiner Eric Cantona.... Monsieur de Foix Sir John Gielgud.... The Pope Shekhar Kapur (the director).... Man who stabs bishop (uncredited)
More details
Soundtrack
Good
How does it compare to others by the same director?
Outstanding
Value for Money
Excellent
What format are you reviewing?
Evaluate this review
How helpful would this review be to someone making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Drama - Director: Steve Shill, David Nutter, Danny Leiner, Tim Van Patten, Alan Taylor, Steve Buscemi, Jack Bender - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over
very helpful
very helpful
very helpful
This product has not yet been reviewed. 
