Flawed visually resplendent melodrama

Rating: 5/10 (12 December 2007)

Almost a decade after the release of "Elizabeth," director Shekhar Capur and star Cate Blanchett return in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age," a film which loosely bases its plot from the life of Queen Elizabeth I of England during her 27th year of reign.
After vowing a life of celibacy, Elizaveth is now pressured into marrying by her adviser, Francis Walsingham (Geoffrey Rush), in an effort. One of her suitors is Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen) who returns from an expedition to the New World and swoons the Virgin Queen with tales of having named an island after her. Meanwhile, King Philip II of Spain prepares to launch a holy war against England and her Protestant queen.
Visually the film is an eye candy - Remi Adefarasin's shots are nicely composed, and the production design are nothing short of remarkable. But the film is replete with subplots suffering from an uneven script and pacing that the film ultimately becomes a forgettable melodramatic affair. Blanchett delivers a solid performance and is virtually the lone bright spot, while the likes of Owen, Rush, and Abby Cornish as the queen's principal lady-in-waiting fail to impart a commanding presence.
What results is a film of deluxe design but lacking the emotional force to be truly involving. And the liberal use of history probably won't win additional affection for this queen either.