Blanchett puts on a bombastic performance for an equally bombastic film.
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1998´s "Elizabeth" was the breakthrough film for actress Cate Blanchett and director Shekhar Kapur, but their careers went off on divergent paths afterwards. Blanchett became an A-list international star following "Elizabeth" and has starred in big-budget blockbusters such as "Lord of the Rings" and the upcoming "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" as well as smaller films like "The Life Aquatic" and "Notes on a Scandal." Kapur went on to direct a remake of "The Four Feathers" which met with a cold response by moviegoers and critics alike. He hasn´t directed another film until "Elizabeth: The Golden Age", a continuation of the life of Queen Elizabeth I with Blanchett returning to the role that put her on the map. The original film surprised a lot of people garnering a strong critical response and had a strong presence during the awards season. "Elizabeth" was nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture, though it only won for Best Make-Up. I´m sure everyone involved hoped to score some more gold statues and plaques, but that was not the case.
Like most sequels, "The Golden Age" basically repeats the plot elements and themes of its predecessor just with a much bigger budget. The first film was essentially an origin story (with a liberal dash of creative license), following Elizabeth I´s ascension to the throne after the death of her half-sister; Queen Mary I. England was torn apart by bad blood between Catholics and Protestants (with Elizabeth being the latter). The Queen faced enemies within her own court as well as abroad as the courts of France, Spain and even the Vatican plotted against her. Affairs of the state blended with affairs of the heart as Elizabeth was pressured to marry and produce an heir to secure her position as Queen of England. "The Golden Age" duplicates "Elizabeth" and uses a similar story structure. There´s political intrigue, assassination plots, romance and heartbreak.
Heavy is the head that wears the crown and things haven´t changed much. Picking up nearly thirty years later, Queen Elizabeth I has grown from the uneasy, overwhelmed girl she was in the first film to a fierce ruler. Though Elizabeth is in her fifties in this era, Blanchett doesn´t look close to that age. The biggest threat to the Queen´s rule is her cousin; Mary, Queen of Scots (Samantha Morton); who plots to assume the throne even while imprisoned. She and her co-conspirators are in league with King Philip II of Spain (Jordi Molla), a devout Catholic who has raged a holy war throughout Europe. He hopes to expand his empire into England with the consent of the Catholic Church.
Her Majesty is still tending offers of marriage from the crowned heads of countries such as Austria, Russia, and Sweden. However, her heart only beats for the roguish explorer, Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen) who looks like he leaped off the cover of a cheesy romance novel. Raleigh immediately charms the Queen by laying his cape across a puddle in her way. Fresh from exploring the New World, Raleigh brings exotic gifts like potatoes, tobacco, Native Americans and a treasure chest full of Spanish doubloons. Elizabeth is easily smitten by this worldly swashbuckler, but a relationship never comes to pass as Raleigh falls for the Queen´s most trusted lady-in-waiting, Elizabeth Throckmorton (Abbie Cornish). All the drama and regicidal plotting gives way to an action-packed spectacle as the British Navy battles King Philip II´s armada of CGI ships on the English Channel. And what would an historical epic be without a stirring speech to the troops? Blanchett gets her "Braveheart" moment as she rallies her men at Tilbury in sterling silver armor while sitting atop her steed.
"Elizabeth" was a critical darling back in ´98, but I´m not sure if it´s stood the test of time. I recently re-watched it in preparation for the sequel and found the film to be too drawn out and muddled. Still, it was a lavish production with an amazing visual style. "The Golden Age" is even more opulent. The costumes are extraordinary and Kapur has a strong eye for capturing the beauty of every nook and cranny of the gorgeously designed castles and cathedrals. Once you´ve gotten over how great this film looks, you wait for the story to engage you, but it never does. The plot just drifts along without much direction. Kapur seems far more concerned with stylish shots to the point of ridiculousness. At one point, we watch a white horse gallop off the deck of a burning ship and swim across the sea as bodies and crucifixes float in the water. Kapur even pulls a Michael Bay as the camera swoops around the actors while they dramatically turn around.
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[release]22740[/release]