Shekhar Kapur's Elizabeth is one of those few exceptions. Yeah, a film about Queen Elizabeth I (Cate Blanchett) might not be a fun subject to watch in film form. But Kapur includes the many events that happened when Elizabeth succeeded the throne, and it's very captivating.
The cast is fantastic. Along with Blanchett, the names featured include Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, a pre-Doctor Who Christopher Eccleston, Richard Attenborough, John Gielgud, Vincent Cassel and a pre-James Bond Daniel Craig. If I had to pick favorites, I'd choose Blanchett, Rush and Eccleston.
Much like The Lion in Winter thirty years earlier, Elizabeth avoids the stuffiness of most other costume dramas by keeping it lively. There aren't many scenes relying on the politics of the time. Instead, there are many witty exchanges between the characters, ranging between dry and biting. If only more costume dramas were like that.
If I wasn't clear enough, I pretty much loved Elizabeth. It's basically what costume dramas should be like: genius, witty and entertaining. Speaking of which...Andrew, got any you could recommend to me?
My Rating: *****
No idea :(
ReplyDeleteThis film is such a horrid history lesson, especially since it plays it all earnestly so you have a feeling that it is accurate when it isn't....but it doesn't matter. It's a fine film, the historical inaccuracy is truly superfluous. It makes me sad thinking about it, though, and the great work Joseph Fiennes did back in 98 and the fact that his career never took off.