Video Review |
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Video Review |
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Last Updated 05/01/01
Email: robitai@our-town.com
Over the last decade, American tourists have been flocking to
England in record numbers. They go to see Buckingham Palace's splendor and hope for a
glimpse of the Queen. They go to The Tower to gaze at the Crown Jewels. They go to
experience British history; in England old means old.
If the recent unpleasantness associated with that bovine disease
has diminished the urge to fly across the Atlantic, Anglophiles can experience the mother
country's allure from the comfort of home. Movies
abound that will satisfy the urge to experience things British and provide the opportunity
to come away with a keen sense of times past. Two of the best are Shakespeare in Love
and Elizabeth.
If it's historical accuracy that you require, wade through the
records at the Public Records Office in London and go to the British Museum (you'll have
to fly there). If, however, you're willing to
immerse yourself in the artistic versions of England's past, consider renting these two
movies that capture the spirit of the Renaissance.
Neither one lapses into that sappiness that sometimes
characterizes historical movies. They remind us that yesterday was just as complicated as
today, and that living life, even the good life, is seldom all that glamorous.
Starting with the
English Renaissance makes sense. It was the time of Queen Elizabeth's reign. That upstart
playwright-actor had left the sleepy little town of Stratford for London. Even respectable people were going across the
River Thames to rowdy Southwark's Globe Theatre for the play performances. The 1998 movie that captured the energy of the
late 1500s and London's theatrical side is "Shakespeare in Love." It swept the
Academy Awards with multiple nominations, winning Best Picture in the process. Starring
Joseph Fiennes as young Will Shakespeare, the movie's engaging, comic plot focuses on
problems associated with having two much genius, too little time, and loving a challenging
woman named Viola (Gwenyth Paltrow). You
don't have to be an English major to enjoy it. This is a side of Shakespeare for the
masses.
Nineteen-ninety eight was a busy time for young Fiennes because
he also appeared in "Elizabeth" as Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, the Queen's
companion and advisor for a time. This movie
takes us to the complicated world of palace scandals, attempted assassinations,
beheadings, and problems of succession.
Much of the action takes place in the dark confines of the castle
and contributes to the somber tone of the film. Cate Blancett's performance as the
heavy-handed, force-wielding Elizabeth is often tempered by the skillfully controlled
camera. This movie is laced with a lot of "moments" that help to explain the
enigmatic Queen. Watch for the particularly powerful one set in Parliament where she
declares herself "Virgin Queen," married to England.
These movies are long, and you have to pay attention. I don't
suggest a marathon, but if you missed them on the big screen, then seeing them is worth
the effort. The experience will be cheaper
than a plane ticket, and you won't have to pack.
Both movies available on DVD and Video.