Absolutely brilliant, a "must-see"

Rating: Null/10 (27 April 2000)

Fans of the "epic" genre should love this film, but it's definitely not an "art-house-only" flick and should appeal to a wide audience (like the equally brilliant film from the same year, "Shakespeare in Love."). Any other "historical fanatics" like myself will pick up historical inaccuracies here, there, and everywhere, but once you forgive that flaw, it's wonderful. Cate Blanchett is stunning as Elizabeth I. In this film Elizabeth goes through a breathtaking transition--an innocent girl to monarch, and the way Blanchett portrays the transition is extraordinary. If there was any year Best Actress should have been a tie at the Oscars, 1998 was it--Paltrow and Blanchett were both deserving and more for the award. In this same year, there was also buzz on the "snub" of Joseph Fiennes for "Shakespeare in Love," though I much prefer his performance in "Elizabeth." The glimpses of his performance are wonderful, and if his character had more screen-time it certainly would have been absolutely heart-breaking. Geoffrey Rush adds yet another entertaining performance in this film, as well. Has the usual brilliant costuming and cinematography that one should expect from an epic. 10/10.