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All Movie Info
Directed By
Shekhar Kapur
Written By:
Michael Hirst
Cast:
Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes, Christopher Eccleston, Richard Attenborough, Fanny Ardant, Vincent Cassel, Daniel Craig, Kathy Burke, James Frain, Edward Hardwicke, John Gielgud, Emily Mortimer, Eric Cantona
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Elizabeth (1998)
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Movie Review by Jarrod 
September 23rd, 2007
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Helen Mirren won an Oscar for playing Queen Elizabeth II, but Cate Blanchett should have won an Oscar for her portrayal of Elizabeth I, which is better I think than even Mirren's in the TV miniseries, which focused on an older Elizabeth, while this one focuses on a younger Elizabeth, learning the rules of the game, from loyal advisers, while being plotted against by nefarious conspirators, one of them being the Duke of Norfolk (Christopher Eccleston). Elizabeth deals with this and other problems, including her lecherous lover, Robert Dudley (Joseph Fiennes), who screws every other woman in her court, including chambermaids. Elizabeth takes over for her sister, the infamous Bloody Mary, known for burning Protestants at the stake, which is what we see in the opening sequence. Elizabeth is a Protestant herself, but is not ardently anti-Catholic, and such trivial religious matters probably take a backseat to her worries of being assassinated, by the French and the Spanish, not to mention those like the Duke who may want the throne, and even the Pope has issues with her, as her father, Henry VIII, broke with the Catholic Church over his many wives, whom he wished to divorce any time he pleased, something the Vatican did not approve of. Elizabeth, with intelligence and resourcefulness, is able to face these challenges and rule England for 45 years, ushering in a cultural renaissance not repeated until the Victorian era, more than two centuries later. Her reign saw the rise of Shakespeare and other legendary literary figures, and saw England emerge as the world's premier naval superpower.
And Blanchett is astounding. Fiercely independent, she never marries, which is why she is called the Virgin Queen, since sex is certainly something she is no stranger to, Elizabeth was an amazing figure of her time, when most of the world would have balked at the idea of a woman wielding as much power as she did. Or certainly a husbandless woman. The film is rich is period detail, with superb costume design and art direction. And a load of terrific actors fill out the supporting cast, including Geoffrey Rush, Richard Attenborough, John Gielgud, and Vincent Cassel. It captures the personality and spirit of Elizabeth, and the intrigues of her court, all with lush visual beauty, though not with much commitment to historical accuracy, even if one should never expect this from any movie.
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