"I knew her before she was a virgin"Groucho Marx................

Rating: 7/10 (25 January 2009)

Of course Groucho was talking about the wonderful Miss Doris Day and not the most powerful and ruthless of English Queens,but it's still all a matter of image and perception. Too often seen as a dried - up old woman with horror make up,it's a revelation to have Elizabeth 1 portrayed as a vital and passionate young woman with normal appetites.Miss C.Blanchett who can sometimes allow herself to indulge in a set of irritating mannerisms is quite mesmerising.From frightened vulnerable adolescent to confident determined grown woman,every change is completely believable.She is one of those fortunate actresses whom the camera loves. It is her performance that sets "Elizabeth" above the run - of - the - mill.Because for the most part it comprises familiar actors putting on their posh voices and swishing about dramatically in various drafty castles around the country.Mr C.Eccleston is particularly guilty of excessive swishing,closely followed by Mr J.Fiennes. Mr G.Rush alone behaves as though he believes that people in Tudor times did not move about as if they were on the stage at Stratford - on - Avon. Monsieur Cantona once scored a wonderful winning goal against Liverpool in the Cup Final,that,surely,should be enough for any man? "Elizabeth" is not a great movie,but it does contain one of the great movie performances,and that,surely,is enough for me.