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Elizabeth
1998
London, 1554. England is rife with intrigue. Elizabeth, born of royal lineage (the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn), imprisoned by her half- sister Mary, when she is 16, is swept onto the throne and crowned Queen of England at 23. To survive, Elizabeth must suss out hidden agendas in her court, on the battlefield, .. Read more
| Starring | Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Fiennes |
|---|---|
| Director | Shekhar Kapur |
| Genres | Drama |
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Elizabeth
London, 1554. England is rife with intrigue. Elizabeth, born of royal lineage (the daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn), imprisoned by her half- sister Mary, when she is 16, is swept onto the throne and crowned Queen of England at 23. To survive, Elizabeth must suss out hidden agendas in her court, on the battlefield, in the church, and in those closest to her. The male-dominated ruling class would appear to have the advantage, but Elizabeth will deploy whatever means necessary to keep, or take, what is rightfully hers. This young woman of intelligence and vitality will toughen herself into the imposing icon of legend...Elizabeth I.
| Starring | Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Fiennes, Richard Attenborough, Fanny Ardant, Kathy Burke, Eric Cantona, James Frain, Vincent Cassel, John Gielgud, Edward Hardwicke, Terence Rigby, Angus Deayton, Emily Mortimer |
|---|---|
| Director | Shekhar Kapur |
| Studio | VISION VIDEO LTD. |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 59 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Dubbed | German |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Subtitles | DVD: Dutch, English, German |
| Released | DVD: 17 May 1999 Production year: 1998 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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This Elizabethan political thriller charting the turbulent life and times of the self-proclaimed “Virgin Queen” is given a vivid contemporary focus by Indian director Shekhar Kapur's keen visual eye. A far cry from the usual costume drama, this sumptuous biography is a thoughtful and dramatic triumph and Australian actress Cate Blanchett is a revelation as the strong-willed monarch who nimbly transforms from naive girlhood to true majesty, assisted by Sir Francis Walsingham (Shine's Geoffrey Rush). Richard Attenborough, Joseph Fiennes, Angus Deayton and ex-footballer Eric Cantona flesh out an interesting cast as “Bollywood” meets The Godfather.
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Fast-moving drama which, while it rearranges historical events, seems accurate in spirit to the political upheavals of the time; against the background of religious persecution and overweening ambitions, it charts Elizabeth's emotional life, as she moves
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Most helpful member's review
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38 out of 38 people found this review helpful
Elizabethan politics and intrigue
After the death of Henry VIII, England was left in a state of political and religious turmoil. The exchequer was empty and the army was weak. Meanwhile, the Catholic powers of France, Spain and the Vatican circled the country and court, eager to burn heretics, advance their own interests, and ensure that England was saved for the Church of Rome.
As a non-Catholic, Elizabeth (Cate Blanchett, who might have been born for the role) was in danger even before she ascended to the throne. This film traces her transition from princess to Queen, and explores how she and her advisers -- notably her spymaster, Francis Walsingham (excellently portrayed by Geoffrey Rush, with a couple of scenes of exquisite ruthlessness) -- confront these threats and ultimately destroy their enemies in a counter-coup of stunning speed and ferocity: the first night of the long knives, perhaps.
The story is seamlessly interwoven with Elizabeth's tragic love for Robert Dudley (Joseph Fiennes), who you might remember from history lessons at school :-)
Personally, I found it engrossing and thought-provoking. It brought home, for example, that there was a time when the Pope was considered such a threat (watch the film and compare his actions to the way certain fundamentalists are motivated today!) that to this day it remains constitutionally inconceivable that a British monarch should be subordinate to Rome.
If you enjoy well-acted historical drama, don't mind a little dramatic embellishment, and like a bit of complexity in your movies, then this will probably appeal. -
Most recent members' review
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8 out of 10 people found this review helpful
dramatised, not based on truth
I rented 'Elizabeth' as I was studying the period of Elizabeth I in history. I found the narrative of the film disappointing as it only covered the early part of her reign and changed the dates of events for increased drama. However, historical fact aside, the film is good to watch. It's not afraid to depict the ruthlessness of Elizabeth's time, and the acting is good across the cast.
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News and features
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Mirren to play the Queen again?
- 01 Dec 2009
Dame Helen Mirren is reportedly set to reprise her role as Queen Elizabeth II in an upcoming film about Indira Gandhi. Mirren, who won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Elizabeth in 2006 movie The Queen, is being lined up to tackle the role again in Mother: The Indira Gandhi Story, a two-part biopic about the former Indian prime minister, who was assassinated in 1984. Hollywood stars Tom Hanks and Tommy Lee Jones are also in talks to join the cast, playing former U.S. Presidents Lyndon B.... Read more
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