ELIZABETH 1998
A film review by Timothy Voon
Copyright 1998 Timothy Voon
3 * * * out of 5 * * * * * for the virgin Queen
Director: Shekhar Kapur Writer: Michael Hirst Cast: Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Fiennes, Richard Attenborough, Fanny Ardendt, John Gielgud, Terence Rigbby, et al
In one of the most engrossing history lessons I've come to experience this year, ELIZABETH brings to life the tale of a princess who overcomes the adversity of the Catholic Church, to become the greatest Queen of her time. She is Elizabeth the First, Elizabeth the untouchable, Elizabeth the virgin, Elizabeth the servant of her country. She set herself immeasurable standards and never married. She rescued the flagging English economy and pushed it in the direction of power, despite being constantly under the threat of war from France and Spain. Without her there may never have emerged such great writers like William Shakespeare, for art flourished under her regime.
Her tale is set mostly in court, where the stuff of murder, intrigue and deceit are woven into a web of suspense. We watch how perilously close she comes to death, when her enemies had no greater wish than to see her beheaded. Neglected by her father, the incorrigible Henry the 8th, betrayed by her lover Robert Dudley (Joseph Fiennes), it is not surprising she clearly states that ‘I am the mistress of this house and no man will be my master'. In this context, we are shown why the Queen suppresses her femininity and does not allow herself to love or be loved, for treachery waits for her at every doorstep. In a time when women were deemed inferior to men, she boldly tells the House of Lords – ‘I may be a woman, but I have the heart of a man, if I so choose.' And so destiny was paved, when Elizabeth proved herself a worthy ruler, by choosing to serve her country above herself.
This is a fine performance by Cate Blanchett, a talented Australian actress, who deserves nothing less than an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of the Queen. Jeffrey Rush should not to be overlooked, as he gives another solid performance as the cunning Sir Francis Walshingham, the Queen's most trusted confidante and adviser. This may be considered a slow ride for some, but so are novels and they usually read better than movies. Like a novel, this story comes across more finely paced than most of the rushed 2 hour jobs out there today.
Timothy Voon
e-mail: stirling@netlink.com.au
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