One mistress and no masters

Rating: Null/10 (29 November 2004)

This is not to be confused with a historical essay any more than the height of the English Renaissance is to be confused with The Middle Ages.
This is a tour de force portrayal of one of the greatest leaders in history by a brilliant actress who has the ability to get right inside the material and the period. It doesn't matter if the Acts of Supremacy, Unformity, the 39 Articles and the Book of Common prayer get all mixed up. The historical texture is authentically Tudor. Blanchett's portrayal of a ruler trying to swim against the tide and create a modern political state is outstanding.
Sure it's quirky. Casting is idiosyncratic at times. But there's hardly been anything to equal the sheer, naked power of Blanchett's Elizabeth since Orson Welles was a lad. England entered Elizabeth's reign amid religious bloodshed and chaos, then emerged, albeit with a slightly shaky Stewart on the throne, as Europe's most stable and best managed economy, aware that religious tolerance, skillful diplomacy and timely intelligence were just as important to security as military might.
Watching Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth, even if it's not always sure-footed about how, will give you a good indication of why.