Elizabeth: The Virgin Queen
An intense and exquisitely
realized look at the early reign of England's greatest monarch,
Elizabeth ranks among the finest films to depict "The Virgin
Queen." Over the years, many performers have portrayed Elizabeth
on screen, including Bette Davis, Jean Simmons, Glenda Jackson,
even Quentin Crisp. Cate Blanchet, the latest to tackle the role,
turns in a powerful and introspective performance, on a par with
any of the above.
The film opens in the declining years of "Bloody Mary"
and unsqueemishly depicts Mary's ruthless persecution of excommunicates.
In spite of Elizabeth's tolerance toward the Protestants, Mary,
near death, begrudgingly appoints her younger sister as heir
to the throne.
In the role of Elizabeth, Blanchet is introspective and utterly
captivating, convincingly taking her from the naive girl depicted
at the outset to the stern and resolved monarch of the finale,
solemnly but necessarilyjaded at too young an age. In between,
the film portrays the various intrigues, political maneuverings,
and endless back-stabbings (figuratively and literally) which
plagued the outset of Elizabeth's reign.
Director Shekhar Kapur offers a highly inventive and stylized
look to the film, and the low-key and moody lighting of cinematographer
Remi Adefarasin is evocative of 16th-century paintings. Kapur
films virtually all of the interiors in medieval cathedrals,
redressed with curtains and tapestries to create Elizabeth's
court, her chambers, etc. While interesting visuallyand in keeping
with the grim tone of the storyone does crave the sight of actual
Tudor interiors after a while.
The story and its performers, however, are ultimately what make
this film great. The supporting cast are first-rate, including
Joseph Fiennes as Elizabeth's lover Robert Dudley, Geoffrey Rush
as the ruthless but loyal Sir Francis Walsingham, and, most especially,
Richard Attenborogh as William Cecil, Elizabeth's most sincere
and trusted advisor. On the other hand, one wishes John Gielgud
would just retire and take up gardening instead of cashing the
check for yet another phoned-in cameo (this time for 60 seconds
as the Pope).
I confess I am still waiting for a lavish, three-hour epic which
deals with Elizabeth's reign from beginning to end (and covers
such later events as the threat from Mary, Queen of Scots, and
the routing of the Spanish fleet), but this film is a more than
satisfying look at her early reignpowerful, dramatic, and compelling.
Paul Andrew MacLean
Shelton CT 06484 USA
(800) 232-2224 voice
(800) 775-2729 fax
LadyJanet@RenaissanceMagazine.com