An interesting, if flawed, interpretation

Rating: 7/10 (28 August 2005)

The film focuses upon the life of Elizabeth I during the reign of Mary and the subsequent early months of her own reign.
Any film which tells a series of historical events is a mix of interpretation and embellishment of recorded events as well as strands which are made up and make a good story (To Kill a King being a fine example of this last point!). Elizabeth is no exception here although it does veer away from interpretation and more towards making it up! However, the opening sequence is stunning. The burning of so-called Protestant heretics is brutal and horribly realistic. Mary is vividly portrayed by Kathy Burke who gives an interesting performance of the character of Mary. What follows is a part thriller and part romance with Elizabeth facing numerous threats to her position as monarch. I feel that the romance thread slows the story down and at times is tedious. It would have been more interesting to focus upon the threat from Mary, Queen of Scots.
The film contains numerous cameos, from the expertly understated Edward Hardwick as Arundel and the almost regal Sir John Gielgud as the Pope to the unlikely Eric Cantona, who just make the mark. Cate Blanchet plays Elizabeth well and she certainly looks the part. However, the outstanding performance comes from Geoffrey Rush as Sir Francis Walsingham who is not only the image of Walsingham but gives a chilling and calm authority to the role.
Overall, the film certainly looks good and the story is reasonably well told despite its historical inaccuracy in places.