Kapur makes wonderful use of Blanchett’s abilities

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Mar 8, 2024

Sort of like Dallas with more extravagant costumes (sex and power plays lurk around every corner).

| Original Score: 3/4 | Sep 16, 2023

The technical aspects are terrific, from the beautiful score, great acting and wonderful sets, all the way down to the last stitch of thread on the costumes.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Dec 20, 2022

Elizabeth is still one of the most full-blooded and finest British period dramas ever committed to celluloid.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Aug 31, 2022

What we witness is Queen Elizabeth's inspiring (and daunting) personal sacrifice of love and human emotion in order to become an empty vessel for the divine to shine through, thereby reigning with the elevated compassion of a true spiritual leader.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Oct 25, 2021

The emotions are violent in Elizabeth. Everybody's emotions are at such a high level, unlike what we are used to seeing in dramas about British history.

| Original Score: B | May 1, 2020

Acted and directed with great energy and imagination.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Mar 21, 2019

With her power constantly challenged by the state and the church, and with powerful men conspiring against her at every turn, it's little wonder that the strength of the first Elizabeth to rule England is legendary.

| Sep 15, 2017

Without [Blanchett], Kapur's extravagant history lesson (written by Michael Hirst) blurs into dark doings among men in tights.

| Original Score: B+ | Sep 7, 2011

Cate Blanchett gives a bravura performance in this dark and lurid account, which is done from a contemporary standoint as a conspiracy thriller, emphasizing the violent actions

| Original Score: B- | Jan 11, 2011

"Elizabeth" is superior historical soap opera that shrewdly sidesteps all the cliches of British costume drama with its bold, often modern approach.

| Jul 31, 2008

Dank interior castle settings create a claustrophobic intensity that underscores the growing sense of paranoia and people's sinister machinations in this battle for England.

Full Review | Original Score: 83/100 | Sep 12, 2007

Kapur cunningly confuses gender roles, equates sex with death, and rattles through dark, stony passions with some considerable panache.

| Jan 26, 2006

| Original Score: 1.5/5 | Dec 6, 2005

More often than not, it's a watchable and thought-provoking history lesson rather than the captivating, revealing, intimate portrait it wants to be.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Dec 6, 2004

| Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 8, 2003

| Original Score: C+ | Jan 10, 2003

| Original Score: 1.5/5 | Dec 8, 2002

Drama of the ascendancy of England's most powerful queen brims with great acting, brilliant direction.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Nov 7, 2002

Historians will take issue with some of the filmmakers' choices, but fans of juicy historical drama will just hunker down for the feast.

| Oct 15, 2002