I'm shocked at all the negative reviews I see here. they seem to focus on the ahistorical meeting of the two queens and the use of black and Asian actors in some of the roles. The first is about dramatic license, something frequently used in historical movies, including the 1971 version of this story. Any competent dramatist is going to want his two antagonists to confront each other and I think it's forgivable. As to the second, I recall Kenneth Branagh did the same thing when he cast Denzel Washington in "Much Ado About Nothing" a generation ago, saying that black actors should be able to play Shakespearean roles besides just Othello. Josie Rourke, the director of this film, must have had the same idea.
Like several of the reviewers here, I decided to see this and "The Favourite", a different story but also a story of women running Great Britain, abit a century and a half later. That film is highly praised and also has good performances, but i enjoyed this one better. It was more serious, less saucy and had, (easily) a better and clearer ending, (you can't top a beheading for that).
The production values, as many have mentioned are good but it's the two lead performances that count. Saoirse Ronan, when her hair is wept back, looks something like Meryl Streep and seems to be on that kind of career path. She is regal and fiery, yet fun-loving and fearful and dominates every scene she is in. The roles I've seen Margot Robbie in are either as a sex-pot or a cartoon character but she gives us a memorably neurotic but sympathetic Elizabeth. they are the reasons to see this movie and they are very good reasons, indeed.
Like several of the reviewers here, I decided to see this and "The Favourite", a different story but also a story of women running Great Britain, abit a century and a half later. That film is highly praised and also has good performances, but i enjoyed this one better. It was more serious, less saucy and had, (easily) a better and clearer ending, (you can't top a beheading for that).
The production values, as many have mentioned are good but it's the two lead performances that count. Saoirse Ronan, when her hair is wept back, looks something like Meryl Streep and seems to be on that kind of career path. She is regal and fiery, yet fun-loving and fearful and dominates every scene she is in. The roles I've seen Margot Robbie in are either as a sex-pot or a cartoon character but she gives us a memorably neurotic but sympathetic Elizabeth. they are the reasons to see this movie and they are very good reasons, indeed.