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www.cincinnati.com - : It was a treacherous era of rivalry between Protestants and Catholics, with harsh penalties for the losers. When the film opens, the fanatic Catholic Queen Mary I (Kathy Burke) is in power, burning Protestants at the stake — a harrowing spectacle that sets a tone of deadly peril for the rest of the film. more...
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www.eonline.com - : This Machiavellian tale of Queen Elizabeth's ascension to the throne begins with the roasting of Protestant heretics by crazed Catholic clerics, and then it really heats up from there. Blanchett is superb in the title role as she transforms from girlish pretender to undisputed sovereign with a shrewd, steely resolve that brings to mind another kind of potentate--Michael Corleone. But unlike the Godfather, or Bill Clinton, for that matter, the Virgin Queen renounces marriage--and the powerful political bedfellows such an alliance would offer--for the sake of dear old England. Standouts in a strong international cast include Rush as Sir Francis Walsingham, a methodical conniver who helps Elizabeth consolidate her power, and Vincent Cassel as the hilariously foppish Duc d'Anjou. more...
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B+
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Critic Reviews
