Ol Robogeek is looking forward to this film, and quite frankly so am I. My fave 'Elizabeth' film is "THE PRIVATE LIVES OF ELIZABETH AND ESSEX" but... ya know... I'm willing to bet this film goes in a totally different direction. And I'll bet Flynn ain't nowhere in sight. So drink your coffee porridge and get to reading, if it holds your interest.
Anyway, I went to a sneak preview of Elizabeth last night at the Sony Copley in Boston, and I was highly impressed. Cate Blanchett IS HM the Q Elizabeth, down to her facial structure, poise, and, oh, those costumes she got to wear. She has this great moment where she's rehearsing a speech she wants to give. Her frustration and tension seems so human, so real.
I was hoping we'd get to see some 'Enry the Eighth, but it was not to be. Still, Cate's performance shines like a little gold statue they give out in Los Angeles in the spring, but who can tell what else may come. Dickey Attenborough is superb as her fatherly councilor, Sir William. When Liz is crowned, I so wanted him to say, "Your Majesty, Welcome...to Jurassic Park!" Damn Spielberg. But he was not oscar-boy for SuppActor. No, that would have to go to our favorite slimy royal guy (makes Edmund Blackadder look like Nursie...you get me?), Norfolk (Chris. Eccleston), he just oozes villainy from the first frame. Of course, Shiny Geoff Rush may give Eccles a run for his money, but American audiences may not appreciate his character, Lord Wollaston (sp?) because he's SO DAMN SUBTLE! He machinates the coolest group-assassination scene since Braveheart, and he never breaks a sweat! Good God!
Oh, yeah, don't see the movie if you expect Catholics to be portrayed in a good, or even fair, light. The black-robed bishops loom over Lizzie like a dozen Vaders (and I mean the cool Dave Prowse-inside types, not the Jake Lloyd's shadow types, though that is pretty cool) and Johnny Gielgud (what is he, like, a Hundred and Eight?) is the freakin' POPE! They might as well have called him Satan, or Emperor Palpy, or someone really evil, like Joe Farrell. And don't expect the French to be treated well either. Think "comic relief character." Also, the French Queen reminded me a lot of Jessie Lange in Hush for some reason.
I kept remembering Braveheart for the scenes above, and for all the blood, but we never actually see any battles (which would be gratuitous anyway, and Lizzie never saw the wars as it was). Very well done.
"How was Ralph's brother, Joseph?" you may ask. Well, he was the love interest, Wobert, er Robert, and he was too "every girl in the audience would love to hear her boyfriend say things like he says." You dig? Mr. Fiennes is this swarthy protestant beefcake who makes Jerry "you...complete me" Maguire look like John freakin' Wayne. It gets a little high on the estrogen-meter when he professes his love for Lizzie. Still, if you gotta bring a date...
Expect the movie to at least be nominated for costumes and Prod. design. The Academy eats that period stuff up. I've never heard of the director before, but he did a great job (he, right?) and I look forward to seeing what else he does.
I've been very fortunate my last two goes to the theater. Last week I saw The Siege for free, and now this. Let's hear it for Smart, strong movies again!
General Sherman.
