ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE |
 |
Ten years into the regin of Queen Elizabeth I, the threat of love is as likely to destabilise the English crown as the threat of the Spanish Armada. | score 3+ |
moviereview rates films from 1 (unwatchable) to 5 (unmissable) |
| FIND A MOVIEREVIEW |
| Cast Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen, Geoffrey Rush, Samantha Morton, Abbie Cornish Director Shekhar Kapur Screenwriter William Nicholson, Michael Hirst Country UK / France Rating / Running Time MA / 114 minutes Australian Release November 2007 Official Site (c) moviereview
2006-2007
ABN 72 775 390 361 |
Nearly
ten years ago, Elizabeth jumped free of the art-house circuit, picked
up eight Oscar nominations and was robbed by that Shakespeare movie. In channelling David Lean, director Kapur made historical drama cool and Cate Blanchett a star. Cast and crew have returned intact to take up the story of the Virgin Queen some thirty years into her rule. There’s little question that Elizabeth II is a sumptuous film. Capturing the glory of Elizabeth’s golden years, Kapur ties in a love story between the Queen, her favoured Lady in Waiting and the dashing adventurer, Sir Walter Raleigh. Meanwhile Catholic fundamentalism, bankrolled by the demonic Spanish Crown, is plotting to defeat the heretic Queen. The film is achingly beautiful, anchored by some dizzying camerawork although every scene involving digital backdrops brings this to a crashing halt. Battle scenes with the beleaguered Spanish Armada recall JMW Turner, Wolfgang Petersen and Errol Flynn. It is unfortunate. As are many, many moments of woeful dialogue that an eye-catching and spirited cast can’t completely overcome. It’s clear that William Nicholson (Gladiator) and Elizabeth’s Michael Hirst have scripted little more than a mighty popcorn event. Despite it’s good looks and consummate acting, this isn’t Oscar worthy, but then, nor was the Shakespeare movie. // COLIN FRASER |