Elizabeth

Theatrical Release Date: 1998 11 06 (USA)

UPC: 025192047176

Studio: Universal Studios

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Violence, Sexual Situations]

Summary: This British-made historical drama depicts the rise of young Elizabeth Tudor to Queen of England, a reign of intrigue and betrayals. In 1554, Queen Mary I (Kathy Burke) tries to restore Catholicism as England's single faith. With no heir to the crown, she maneuvers to keep her Protestant half-sister Elizabeth (Cate Blanchett) from succeeding her, but her efforts fail. With Mary dead, Elizabeth is proclaimed Queen of England in November 1558. Elizabeth relishes the return from exile of her childhood sweetheart, Lord Robert Dudley (Joseph Fiennes). Chief adviser Sir William Cecil (Richard Attenborough) urges the young Queen to forget personal matters and instead address the country's pressing problems. England is bankrupt, has no army, and is under serious threat from abroad. Elizabeth even has enemies within her own court, the most dangerous being the Duke of Norfolk (Christopher Eccleston). Hoping for an heir, Cecil suggests marriage candidates -- King Philip II of Spain or the French Duc d'Anjou (Vincent Cassel) -- to secure the realm. Elizabeth agrees to meet their ambassadors, but her true feelings are revealed when she meets Dudley for a secret tryst. French "warrior queen" Mary of Guise (Fanny Ardent) amasses troops at the Scottish border. Elizabeth bows to the pro-War lobby led by Norfolk, despite protests from her Master of Spies, the enigmatic Sir Francis Walsingham (Geoffrey Rush), but the decision to fight leads to a humiliating defeat. As dark clouds of court conspiracies gather, and the possibility of assassination looms, Elizabeth strikes out at her enemies and puts her trust in Walsingham. Shown at 1998 film fests (Venice, Toronto), this is the first English-language film of Indian director Shekhar Kapur, who shot on locations at Northumberland, Derbyshire, North Yorkshire, and at Shepperton Studios. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Category: Historical Film

Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama – null Best Actress – Broadcast Film Critics Association Best Actress – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Art Direction – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Art Direction – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Cinematography – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Costume Design – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Makeup – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Dramatic Score – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Picture – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Picture – National Board of Review Best Director – National Board of Review Best Picture [Runner-up] – Toronto Film Critics Association Best Actress – Toronto Film Critics Association Best Director [Runner-up] – Toronto Film Critics Association Best Actress – Chicago Film Critics Association Best Actress – Screen Actors Guild Best Cinematography – American Society of Cinematographers Best Picture – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Picture – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama – Hollywood Foreign Press Association

Features: The Making of Elizabeth
Elizabeth Featurette
Feature Commentary with Director Shekhar Kapur

Elizabeth

Format: Blu-ray

Release Date: 04/27/2010

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Theatre Wide-Screen

Audio: DHMA null, DD2 Dolby Digital Stereo, DTS Digital Theater Systems

Runtime: 120 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French,German,Spanish

Subtitles: English,French,German,Spanish

Lucia Bozzola

Taking on the historical terrain given previous cinematic life in two Bette Davis vehicles, Elizabeth presents a complex portrait of the self-styled Virgin Queen and the violent underpinnings of the monarchy. Indian director Shekhar Kapur re-imagines the early, hotly contested years of the legendary queen's reign with a keen eye for both the harsh brutality of 16th century life and the opulent luxury afforded the nobles. As Elizabeth I, Cate Blanchett dexterously evolves from light-hearted young woman to preternaturally wise power broker to ossified icon, as emotionally gutted by her rise to supremacy as Francis Ford Coppola's Mafia don Michael Corleone. Geoffrey Rush and Christopher Eccleston excel as, respectively, the queen's consigliere and chief nemesis; and Remi Adefarasin's chiaroscuro cinematography further lends the events an atmospheric Godfather-esque sheen. Hailed for its visual splendor and Blanchett's career-making performance, Elizabeth scored seven Oscar nominations, including Best Actress and an unexpected nod for Best Picture, but lost out to the breezier Elizabethan romp Shakespeare in Love (1998). ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Tim Bevan  Producer 
Eric Fellner  Producer 
Michael Hirst  Screenwriter 
Alison Owen  Producer 
David Hirschfelder  Composer (Music Score) 
Shekhar Kapur  Director 
Cate Blanchett  Actor 
Geoffrey Rush  Actor 
Christopher Eccleston  Actor 
Joseph Fiennes  Actor 
Richard Attenborough  Actor 
Fanny Ardant  Actor 
Kathy Burke  Actor 
Eric Cantona  Actor 
James Frain  Actor 
Vincent Cassel  Actor 
Daniel Craig  Actor 
John Gielgud  Actor 
Angus Deayton  Actor 
Edward Hardwicke  Actor 
Terence Rigby  Actor 
Amanda Ryan  Actor 
Kelly MacDonald  Actor 
Emily Mortimer  Actor 

Country: UK