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Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)

Time Out rating

Average user rating

18 reviews

Synopsis

Almost a decade after ‘Elizabeth’, Shekhar Kapur and Cate Blanchett reunite for another slice of Virgin Queen life. HM is now firmly established, enjoying the occasional dally with Raleigh (Clive Owen) and shoring up the Empire against those fanatical Spaniards. Geoffrey Rush reprises his Walsingham; Abbie Cornish and Samantha Morton also appear.

Movie review

From Time Out London

There’s a scene in ‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’ that shows the forces of Spain preparing for the invasion of England, working overtime dying robes Inquisition red. It’s an odd thing to focus on amid the grand mechanics of the Armada, but quite in keeping with a film that values costume above all else, neglecting both the niceties of history and the demands of drama.

Picking up a few decades after their 1998 collaboration ‘Elizabeth’ left off, star Cate Blanchett, director Shekhar Kapur and co-writer Michael Hirst (late of US TV’s ‘The Tudors’) give us a Virgin Queen comfortably established on the throne but facing Catholic conspiracy at home and abroad. (Cue Jordi Mollà’s creepy Philip II and Rhys Ifans’ post-‘Da Vinci Code’ demon cleric.) Meanwhile, Her Maj is swooning to tales of transatlantic derring-do from cocky Sir Walter Raleigh (a rather one-note Clive Owen) – as, awkwardly, is her closest attendant and friend, Elizabeth Throckmorton (Abbie Cornish).

Making soap of statecraft, the film has plenty of juicy moments, but offers an inconsistent rather than complex view of Elizabeth: the magnetic Blanchett always convinces in imperious hauteur, but her lurches into jealous pique and flustered vulnerability don’t quite fit. (Samantha Morton’s captive Mary Stuart, prickling with pride and fear, almost steals the show.) Kapur has a fine eye for royal spectacle-making, swathing in rich textiles and ravenous pans the procession of the Royal Barge and the exotic ornaments of court; if it’s Tuesday, it must be zebras. The Armada set-pieces founder, however, and the sumptuous visuals begin to feel distracting, even absurd. Did she really wear a ruff in the bath?

Author: Ben Walters

Time Out London Issue 1941: October 31-November 6

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User reviews of this film

DTaly said...

Posted on May 28 2008 17:07 I believe the opening scene which is to have been Fotheringhay was the backdrop of Eilean Donan, ,Isle of Skye, thus the Cuillins in the background; however it is difficult to tell, considering the brevity of the scene. Historically inaccurate, however if one enjoys Blanchette and is able to overlook fact, the film is grand!

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veronica said...

Posted on Jan 07 2008 18:07 few words......cate is amazing!!

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Graeeme Stewart of Scots. said...

Posted on Dec 27 2007 17:21 One reviewer says the movie panders to an American audience. But have you read the American reviews of this flic? They absolutely hate it with a passion & they mock it as if it had been put in the stocks in the town square. I can't make my mind up, There's only one thing for it. Go and see it as my Birthday present to myself. I shall go armed with both tomatoes and popcorn.

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celia toynbee said...

Posted on Nov 28 2007 09:57 A load of old tosh ....save your money

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Henry Ford said...

Posted on Nov 22 2007 20:51 The film is well worth seeing. It continues the theme established in its predecessor, which is that England as a fledgling Protestant state was in great danger of being attacked and driven back to Catholicism by the Catholic states in Europe. As the monarch of that upstart Protestant state, Elizabeth faces great challenges and threats. Cate Blanchett conveys the depth of character required - tough but humane, principled but pragmatic, and also regal but vulnerable. The sketch of a romance with Sir W Raleigh did not convince entirely, but the film is nevertheless a thoughtful, colourful, realistic addition to cinematic narratives of Elizabeth's reign.

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Fintan the Bold said...

Posted on Nov 17 2007 16:18 Historically inaccurate. Good performance by Cate Blanchette but because of the inaccurate story it is all wasted. Raleigh was inaccurate as a person and in events. What a pity, there was plenty of true events to make this exciting so why didnt they stick to the facts! Storyline was weak. Shows that CGI on its own is not good enough to make a good film. Sigh!

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Brian Adams said...

Posted on Nov 15 2007 12:28 What a load of cobblers. Lots of pretty pictures and frocks, madatory torure and chopping scene, Walter rRleigh beating off the Spanish single-handedly. It takes me a while to get back to a cinema after junk like this

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Michael said...

Posted on Nov 15 2007 09:55 Laughably bad but not enough to redeem it. Probably the worst film I've sat through this year.

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daniel boulter said...

Posted on Nov 14 2007 19:21 daniel boulter

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daniel boulter said...

Posted on Nov 14 2007 19:18 ^^^^^ This person needs to get out more!!!

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Rob said...

Posted on Nov 13 2007 16:18 Beautiful sequel. And seemless from the first film. Cate Blanchett deserves an Oscar for this.

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Elaine said...

Posted on Nov 13 2007 13:29 Fantastic...Cate is Elizabeth deserves an osca hoping for no: 3?

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Linda Madden said...

Posted on Nov 10 2007 16:36 I think Valerie Livina is a complete nutter Seeing the film tonight but couldn't possibly base my decision on her ravings!!

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Conor said...

Posted on Nov 09 2007 16:54 i thought the movie was fantastic. Fair enough there were historical inaccuracies e.g. Mary Queen of Scots would not have spoken with a Scottish accent as she was raised in France near enough from birth until 18. i thought though that cate blanchett is an amazing actress and played the part in an exciting and fantastic way. i loved how the movie dealt with the Spanish Armada and Elizabeth's insecurities with her wigs and make-up. a worth-while see

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Killer said...

Posted on Nov 08 2007 08:17 A rubbish soap, Historically innaccurate, where was Dudley and William Cecil (he talked Liz into beheading Mary). Raliegh never took part in the Armada (he just leant his ship).Fotheringhay (mary's prison) is near Peterborough not in the wilds of Scotland. I went to see the Armada and got tripe. Even Elisabeths stirring battle speech was completely wrong.The Director should be put in the tower for historical treason and pandering to the American audience. I had high hopes and walked away angry!

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