"Royally entertaining"
This melodrama of Elizabeth I is engaging, entertaining, and well acted. Dame Helen Mirren plays the role of Queen Elizabeth with all the confidence and attitude of a true royal. During her interactions with her Privy Council she is at times playful and humorous, at other times she is a force to be reckoned with; authoritative, disciplined, and strong willed.
Elizabeth is constantly reminded of her need to marry and produce an heir to continue the Tudor line. As a protestant queen, her realm and its people are torn between allegiance with Elizabeth and her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, who is catholic. The Privy Council's candidate for Elizabeth's hand is the french duke, Anjou (a catholic) who they feel would help to strengthen their forces against Elizabeth's former brother-in-law Philip, the king of Spain. Elizabeth's English suitor and love interest, the Earl of Leicester, holds firm that an alliance with the french would not be good for England and sets out to prove his suspicion and gain support in his belief.
Intrigue ensues as a plot involving Mary of Scots to kill Elizabeth is discovered, leading to the warrant of execution for the Scottish queen.
Surrounded by young(er) maids in waiting, the aging queen is displayed with all the frailty and jealousy of an aging woman. Holding fast to her position, she resigns to the fact that she will not marry any man who would want to rule her or her kingdom, nor will she give England away for the sake of an alliance. She is content with being married to England.
This production is wonderfully cast with Jeremy Irons as the Earl of Leicester and Hugh Dancy as the young Earl of Sussex, a young suitor who seduces an older Elizabeth for his own personal gain, but to his peril.
The cinematography is beautifully filmed and the costumes are gorgeously authentic and expertly executed.
Be taken back to the 16th century and enjoy the intrigue, pageantry, life and loves of her majesty, Elizabeth I.
Bestätigter Kauf: JaArtikelzustand: Neu