Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Directed by Shekhar Kapur.
Starring Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Clive Owen, Abbie Cornish, Samantha Morton,
Jordi Molla, Rhys Ifans, Adam Godley, Tom Hollander.
Historical epics can mean great spectacles and experiences in a big screen big sound cinema. Unfortunately, Elizabeth: The Golden Age does not have the intricacies, pacing nor most important of all, suspense, to create such an experience. Add in contrived, artificial sounding dialogue and there you sit, like an catwalk observer of models and their costumes and note details in the actors (models) faces — "Ah, I see two moles on that actor/model, hmm…"
Even the sea battle scenes seem dull, lacking real danger and suspense and again you are distracted thinking, "Hmm, computer generated ships, battle scenes, looks a tad bit fake there." Interesting from that viewpoint but not involving.
One of the missing ingredients that made the first Elizabeth work so well was Geoffrey Rush's (as master spy Sir Francis Walsingham) constant manipulating and maneuvering against perceived enemies and their return parries and thrusts, chess move after chess move. That wonderful Elizabethan Era Spy Vs Spy is relegated to a minor part in this one and nothing of that level of suspense and intensity takes its place.
Queen Elizabeth challenged on two fronts — by Spanish King Philip II and his mighty Catholic armada — and vulnerable in her love of pirate Walter Raleigh, struggles to maintain her royal power and her sense of self while England's future hangs in the balance.
Disappointing for all of the wonderful opportunities to bring such a vivid part of history alive in all of its textures, plots and trickery with its resounding echoes of similar machinations and manipulation in today's world.
2.5 Stars out of 5.
Eddie Crismani
