When Elizabeth I (Blanchett) takes the throne, England is divided
between Catholics and Protestants. The royal court is riddled with
conspiracies; foreign enemies threaten from all sides. What follows
is the tale of how she overcomes these obstacles, unites the faiths, and
makes her nation great again. Cue triumphant cheering? Far from it. For
to succeed as a ruler, Elizabeth must fail as a human being. This is a
complex work that challenges and provokes by making us feel things we
don't want to feel. It may not be good history, but it's a moral tragedy
reminiscent of The Godfather - with some of the same sense of style -
illuminated by a stunningly nuanced performance from Blanchett.
