All together a very good film

Rating: 8/10 (27 January 1999)

I was only disappointed with the erratic editing sequence with Elizabeth prior to her addressing the bishops. It's resemblance to Woody Allen film techniques was not very Victorian at all, and it was extremely jarring. Dissolves might have been better or even just voice-overs of broken attempts to formulate the sentences, while fluid motion on screen of her getting ready might have accomplished an underlying theme of the film. It would have lent more to the idea of people in high authority positions, as Elizabeth was have a tremendous amount of conflict and confusion going on inside of them, but do not, or attempt to not let other people "see them sweat." Probably would've been more fitting.
I really enjoyed the whole "cleaning house sequence in the end of the film. Really reminded me of, but not near the caliber of the end of The Godfather, in which Michael Corleone rids himself of the obstacles, people though they may have been, that pose threats to his rule. I say obstacles because their deaths were as cold as they come- with no room for negotiation; "offers they couldn't refuse."
The sequence at the end of the film with the whiteness, I saw as less of a virginity/purity thing and more as her emulation of a white male (the whiteness coupled with the cutting of the hair) so as to illicit the maximum amount of respect. Perhaps this is way off, especially considering the working title of the film was "The Virgin Queen," I just found it interesting that in cutting her hair, she looked less feminine and perhaps, in the eyes of Victorian England, more masculine, and appropriate to rule the country.
All together a very good film, with solid acting performances from Geoffrey Rush and especially Cate Blanchette, who with her Golden Globe nod, probably (and I believe, rightfully) forged her way to the front of the pack for the Oscar race. And finally, not to spend too much time on the apparent, the costume, set direction, and score were extremely well done.