Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Release date: October 12, 2007
Directed by: Shekhar Kapur
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen, Geoffrey Rush, Samantha Morton

"Woman. Warrior. Queen" may seem like an over-simplified description of the complex historical figure Queen Elizabeth I, but the tagline for director Shekhar Kapur's Elizabeth: The Golden Age perfectly sums up the disparate nature of the iconic woman who both railed against and embraced her royal fate.

The Golden Age reunites Kapur with Cate Blanchett, who played the titular queen in the director's previous Elizabeth, which explored the icon's rise to power. The Golden Age picks up with the queen firmly entrenched on her throne in late 16th century, but unaware that Spain, ruled by King Philip II and his devoutly Catholic realm, are conspiring against the Protestant queen and her country. In addition to this, Elizabeth, known as the virgin queen, must also deal with the mounting pressure to find a husband and produce an heir — a task she handles with dismissive aplomb, until she meets the rebellious pirate explorer Sir Walter Raleigh (Owen).

Don't be fooled, though, The Golden Age is not an overwrought love story. The relationship between Elizabeth and Raleigh is central to the story, but both the director and the character of Elizabeth don't let it consume what's most important — the queen's control of her country and her desires. Her rare moments of vulnerability are both uncomfortable and heartwarming to watch as she struggles with her duties as queen and her desires as a lonely woman. This especially becomes the case as Elizabeth's reserve crumbles around the growing intimacy between Raleigh and her loved lady-in-waiting and closest companion. The range of emotions that often flicker on Blanchett's face in a matter of seconds is a treat to behold. As she tells one of her naive suitors about her interaction with others, "I imagine there is a pane of glass between me and them. I can be seen, but not touched."

Many of the performances in the film excel. Some of the best supporting roles come from the most feared of characters. Samantha Morton is the Catholic Mary Stuart, Elizabeth's imprisoned cousin who orchestrates an assassination attempt against her. Morton's eerie and icy intensity rivals Blanchett. Leading up the Catholic contingent is Jesuit crusader Robert Reston (Rhys Ifans) and King Philip II of Spain (Jordi Molla), who will both make your skin crawl with their blind and evil devotion to their cause.

The Golden Age is a historical epic that focuses more on the figures than the events. When Spain goes to war against England in an effort to restore it to Catholicism, the infamous battle at sea against the Spanish Armada is given little screen time.

Queen Elizabeth I was a controversial character for her time who's been humanized by both Kapur and Blanchett. Her cold and steadfast dedication to England is underscored by her capacity for love and her vulnerable nature. In the end, she embraces the personal sacrifice she must make for her beliefs and her country.