ELIZABETH (British-Indian)
A review by Mark R. Leeper in bullet-list form
from the Toronto Internation Film Festival
CAPSULE: The first hour is beautifully realized. In the second hour the writing gets a little muddled and the style becomes less original. Still, this story of the coming to power of Queen Elizabeth is enthralling. She is a bit too much a 1990s woman, but the photography is very good. Rating: 8 (0 to 10), high +2 (-4 to +4)
- Directed by Shekhar Kapur. Unusual to see an Indian directing a film about a British monarch. - Very powerful telling of the rise to power of Elizabeth I. The first hour was spellbinding. The director filmed with real power. By the second hour the writing had gotten a little muddled. - David Hirschfelder (SHINE) provides a very melodic score. - Many overhead shots to show the size of the buildings and smallness of people. Photography kept dark. Many scenes done in rich blacks and reds. - Somehow reminiscent of a Hieronymous Bosch painting with some of its weird and powerful images. - False move in showing Elizabeth practice an argument using a technique like would be used to show outtakes. It seems like too modern an editing technique. - Elizabeth begins as a pawn and learns to fend for herself. Deciding best way to be rid of Elizabeth, Queen Mary instructs a bishop, "Your Grace will find some proof of her treachery." - Very harrowing and haunting scene of an execution by burning. Do not bring young children. - Wolsingham (Geoffrey Rush) is Elizabeth's Secret Service and is ruthless in protecting her. - I like films of this period and few are done as well as ELIZABETH. - She may be written a little too much like a modern woman.
Mark R. Leeper
mleeper@lucent.com
Copyright 1998 Mark R. Leeper
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