Elizabeth by Michael Hirst -10 out of 10

Elizabeth by Michael Hirst

10 out of 10

It is interesting, if somewhat confusing to see this phenomenal motion picture – one of the best 100 for this cinephile – again after the recent release of Mary Queen of Scots and try to make sense of the contrasting views of the two perspectives and perhaps also think of another sensational success of 2018, The Favorite, where the queen is something else and the monarch could not be further apart from Elizabeth I.

This was a glorious queen, ruling over one of the best periods in British history, with accomplishments that should have made those who doubt the qualities of women stop then and there and give them equal rights and make their access to power and easy journey, albeit there would surely be many more films and books to come that will emphasize the dark side of the colonial power and depict the Virgin Sovereign as a symbol of despotism.

In this film however, the public is astounded by this Wonder Woman, her courage, extraordinary self-control, wisdom, spirit of self-sacrifice when she gives up her own wellbeing, suppresses her passion for Lord Robert Dudley aka Joseph Fiennes – this is where it seems historians will never know the details, although they will keep speculating – and give her life to her spouse – England.

Elizabeth I is portrayed by the outstanding Cate Blanchett – winner of two Oscars and nominated for one for this role, which has brought her a Golden Globe and other distinctions – and the rest of the cast is perfect, it could not have been any better considering names like Geoffrey Rush as Walsingham, Richard Attenborough as Sir William Cecil, Vincent Cassel in the role of the Duc d’Anjou, John Gielgud as the Pope, Fanny Ardant as Mary of Guise, Daniel Craig a treacherous priest – depending on the side you take – and so many other fabulous artists.

For some time, indeed, we could argue that for most of her rule, the Virgin Queen has been under tremendous pressure and it looks as if she might be the one who dies and not Mary Queen of Scots, given that she is in at the start of her reign more than vulnerable and many attempts on her life are made – in one, Isabel Knollys aka the wonderful Kelly Macdonald, one of the ladies in waiting, dies while wearing a dress destined for the queen that had been poisoned with the intent to dispatch the formidable monarch.

While Sir William Cecil is the adviser, the young queen seems to have few opportunities for ascent, transformation, the glory that she will achieve when Sir Francis Walsingham becomes perhaps the most important element in this game of power – there are documentaries we can see that depict him as one of the first, together with Richelieu, to have thought of and created a proto spy agency that gave him vital information about the enemies of the state and thus enabled him to win over and eventually kill them.

The duke of Norfolk wanted to eliminate Walsingham and that could have made for a different history, but once the cunning man kills his would be assassin, he is able to maneuver in such a way as to ensure the success of his sovereign, once in a crucial vote during which he maintains opponents in a temporary confinement, then through his network of informers he is able to counteract and catch, destroy the enemies of the queen.

For a long time, the idea that Elizabeth needs to marry is maintained, the Duc d’Anjou comes over with Monsieur de Foix – for the part we have an impressive former footballer turned actor, Eric Cantona – and he is dashing, rude and impetuous in his courtship of the monarch, although we can soon see that all he wants from her is a position as a possible despot, for he seems to have a different sexual orientation, or anyway he prefers other partners to the sovereign.

Spain used to be the world leader while Elizabeth is gaining strength and senior Alvaro de la Quadra is the envoy that tries to scheme and plot the overthrow of the legitimate – again, depending on one’s perspective – leader, trying to work to work with the duke of Norfolk, press him to act when time appears to be running out, then approaching Lord Robert Dudley when this one looks like losing the favor of the sovereign and proposing that he acts in the interests of Spain.

The Earl of Leicester appears to overplay his hand and try to push and benefit from the feeling of Elizabeth, forgetting that this is a strong, marvelous, determined, wondrous, bold, passionate, self-controlled woman that rejects him when, during a dance at the court, following the exposure of the French suitor as a transvestite, in an age when tolerance was not the order of the day, Robert Dudley pushes and demands from his monarch the impossible.

Meanwhile, the Pope aka the iconic, cinematic legend John Gielgud talks to a catholic priest, John Ballard aka James Bond Daniel Craig, about the destruction of the sovereign that they see as anathema, a representative of the devil, given that she is the enemy of the Catholic church and the head of the Anglican Church and Ballard appears to be the one who poisons the dress and he is about to kill her majesty when her courtiers arrive to save her at the last moment.

Walsingham is infiltrating the enemy camp, but when Ballard lands on the English shore, on his way back from the Vatican, he kills with bestiality one of the most important spies, an invaluable source of information placed in the entourage of the Duke of Norfolk, albeit very soon, the duke and the rebel priest are caught, tortured, beheaded and their heads are put on spikes for all to see.

Elizabeth is a classic film, with all that a masterpiece needs to have, illustrious performances, a fantastic subject, a heroine that is a role model, bigger than life and most importantly real – even if there would be many that detract, criticize and demolish her accomplishments as the sovereign of an aggressive, imperial state – with sumptuous costumes, incredible makeup – winner of the Academy Award – and a story that brings the audience to another level, makes one feel mesmerized, enchanted and in awe with a Wonder Woman and spectacular characters.

This is one of the best motion pictures ever.