Fantastic, Moving Historical Drama - Very Captivating

Rating: 10/10 (20 August 2009)

Who can forget Bette Davis as the "King in Petticoats" Queen Elizabeth the First- Until one sees how Cate Blanchette tackles the same difficult subject.
I had never heard of Cate Blanchette until she was perfectly cast as Galadriel in Lord of The Rings, but after that I cannot get enough of her, she always raises the quality level of any film she is in.
As a character actress she rivals the greats like Paul Muni - A chameleon, you never know as what next she will appear.
I had wanted to see this film from the time that "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" was released, I did not want to see that film until I had seen this one.
This film has great performances by Joseph Fiennes, Edward Hardwicke -Son of Sir Cedric Hardwicke and looks just like him, Geoffrey Rush, and the most striking woman, Amanda Ryan ans the fictional Lettice Howard as the lover of The Earl of Norfolk. Other standouts are Fanny Ardant as Mary of Guise. Finally, Richard Attenborogh as Sir Cecil. and that rounded out a great cast.
Visually this film uses very little CGI except in establishing shots, and it is done well. The choice of locations give the proper impression of antiquity.
Although this film takes some liberties with the history of Queen Elizabeth I, it shows us how it may have been for this remarkable woman: Imprisoned Princess to Queen to Virgin Queen.