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The reign of King Henry VIII was part of the bloodiest era that England has
Concerns run high among the nobility, for Mary has been unable to produce an heir and her husband, the King of Spain, no longer seeks her company. If Mary were to die, her Protestant half-sister Elizabeth would assume the throne. Advised by her council, the Duke of Norfolk, to find some charge against Elizabeth and have executed, Mary has her sister imprisoned in the Tower. But due to a lack of evidence and a begrudging sense of honor, Mary fails to sign the death warrant, and on her passing Elizabeth is named queen.
Deemed “illegitimate” by the church and loathed by much of the court, Elizabeth faces the unknown with only a few loyal friends about her. One of them is her lover, Lord Robert Dudley, who cannot seek her rightful hand in marriage without arousing a public outcry, for as monarchy Elizabeth is bound to marry to further her kingdom in a time of strife. The royal treasury has been depleted, their armies are weak, and they have lost the northern territories to Mary of Guise. England is weak and war-torn; Elizabeth has been handed a wounded country in need of srong leadership to carry them into prosperity. Political passions run dangerously array at court, for she is generally disliked among Mary's Catholic friends, and there is concern for her very life.
Taken by its own merit, Elizabeth is a beautiful film with enough intrigue, scandal, and historical accuracy to keep most viewers enthralled, particularly if they’re a fan of period drama or the Elizabethan era. But don’t count on a play-by-play historical drama... this one is mostly fiction. In reality, the film only covers a small portion of Elizabeth Tudor’s life, and takes many liberties with history. Covering only her younger years, viewers shouldn’t expect to see Mary Queen of Scots or William Shakespeare; instead it follows her struggle against a traitorous court, religious rivalries, and many hopeful suitors seeking a crown.
The film is brilliant to look at, a true piece of artistry from the director of The Four Feathers. The camera movements enhance the experience with beautiful close-ups and unique angles. From the first moment, as religious prisoners are lead to their execution, to the final closing ceremony, the viewer is enthralled not only with the story itself, but the gorgeous cinematography and masterful costume design as well. We are often left guessing at motivations and intentions, but all is revealed in the end. Cate Blanchett’s performance won her a Golden Globe. At times, she seems quiet and uncertain of herself, but several key scenes show her for the strong, versatile actress that she is. She has a magnificent supporting cast, most notably Geoffrey Rush as her protector. His lucid, commanding presence lends a sinister air to many of his scenes. Joseph Fiennes is also very capable as Lord Robert.
Language consists mainly of many uses of “whore” and “bastard” in reference to the “illegitimate queen.” There are a few mild abuses of deity in subtitles. Although edited, some suggestive dialogue still remains. Elizabeth implies that if she were to marry her late sister’s husband, he would only be interested in sharing her bed once or twice a year, to which Dudley implied that he would not be so foolish. He is seen slipping into her chamber one night, and later dialogue references their affair. A member of court uses mild innuendo to reference his alliances and says he rather favors one side over the other. The woman he is speaking with is found the next morning dead in her bedroom.
The camera pans a man’s room to reveal a woman sharing his bed. Elizabeth walks in on one of her suitors to find him wearing a dress in open mockery of her. Prisoners are burned at the stake in the opening credits. A bloody battlefield is panned, showing many dead bodies. A man’s throat is non-graphically slit. A Catholic priest is given orders by the Vatican to assassinate the queen and anyone in alliance with her. He is shown from a distance killing a man with a rock (we see nothing). A man is shown being tortured. One of the ladies in waiting is found slightly bloody after being poisoned. Elizabeth is forced to allow her men to hunt down and kill those in opposition to her, although she shows them mercy in the Tower. Severed heads are seen on a pike.
The film does paint a realistic picture of how any life without Christ can become grievously flawed. What’s more, it points out how religious intolerance can tear apart a nation. When all is said and done, it boils down to a simple truth: that two branches of the church were unable to live in harmony before Elizabeth stepped in and passed a compromise to put an end to religious violence. Even if for nothing else, we can thank her for that. Thanks to Charity Bishop for her excellent movie review NOTE
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ever known. His most notable acts of violence were among those in his
own household; through betrayal, beheading, and assassination, he kept the
throne. After his death, his eldest daughter Mary Tudor rose to power,
ousting her half sister Elizabeth. Under her hand the country was torn in
two by opposing beliefs... a Protestant country, and Catholic monarchy.
With
numerous countries vying for her throne, and the court encouraging her to be
married, Elizabeth is torn between her love for Robert, and her love for
England. Only her mother’s friend and supporter Sir William Cecil remains a
trustworthy ally. Under his direction Walsingham, a hired assassin and
bodyguard, enters the court for her protection. But not even he can stop the
inevitable political strife, private passions, and warfare that mark
Elizabeth’s reign and eventually transform her into the monarch noted
throughout history as “the virgin queen.”
The
air of the film is both romantic and frightful; the sight of a cloaked
figure moving toward a terrified Elizabeth, a sudden unexpected
assassination attempt, and a shocking turn of events that leave the young
queen emotionally devastated. Severe content issues put the film on hold
with its release, and only recently has the option to see it edited become
available. I strongly encourage viewers NOT to rent the unedited version,
as it contains graphic sexual content and nudity. I bought my copy
pre-edited, but even so some flaws remain, mainly in mild innuendo and
violence.
The
final problem some may have with Elizabeth is the religious element,
which paints both sides as deeply flawed. Having a good grasp of political
problems within the church at this time, that element did not disturb me as
deeply as it may others. Christianity in the middle ages was less belief in
God and more a struggle for power; either side sending out assassins is
hardly surprising. I do carry a complaint with Elizabeth’s obvious affair
with Lord Dudley despite her personal faith, yet...