"The Queen is dead. Long live the Queen!"

Rating: 8/10 (21 May 2018)

Murder, corruption and intrigue take center stage in this story of Queen Elizabeth, daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Feared by Catholics who resent her rising to the throne, the film follows the many machinations to have her denounce her own religion and in failing to do so, to remove her via an ultimate solution. I have to admit I'm not familiar with this era of British history, so view the story as Hollywood's take on a significant era that eventually succeeded, but started out under very questionable circumstances. What seems almost inconceivable today is the way the story bears out how royal families of different countries asserted their power and influence by marrying among themselves without regard to love or fidelity. In that regard, Elizabeth (Cate Blanchett) stealthily avoids commitment to any one individual, while being pulled in all directions by her staff, English bishops, and fellow monarchs who would deign to consolidate their own bases of power. The period costuming is lavish and the sets are given the royal treatment in accord with the subject matter. Elizabeth's own decision to have her loyal guard defend her throne takes on the aspect of Michael Corleone's method of cleaning house in "The Godfather". Blanchett's performance was deserving of a Best Actress Oscar, and she WAS nominated, but lost out to Gwyneth Paltrow in what might be considered the Academy's version of highway robbery. One must see her performance to truly appreciate Blanchett's sublime take on the English Queen.