Cate Blanchett adds an Oscar-worthy feather to her crown with 'Elizabeth: The Golden Age.' As politics reign supreme at the Toronto International Film Festival, "Elizabeth: The Golden" Age falls into 2007's conscientious movie mix with lavish period style. Cate Blanchett is back again in the role that catapulted the chameleon actress into Hollywood's A-list.
In this sequel to 'Elizabeth,' England's iconic queen is faced with poisonous court intrigues, duplicitous diplomats and the threat of Spain bringing down her monarchy. It is in her heart, however, that Elizabeth's biggest battle is being waged. Fighting her feelings for the charismatic Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen).
Elizabeth's epic existence is humanized by her longings to love as other women do and to dream of the freedom her subjects enjoy to live as she chooses. "That's why she's so attracted to Sir Walter Raleigh," says director Shekhar Kapur.
"Raleigh was a man exploring his dreams. Elizabeth is fascinated by him because he comes from shores far away. She's traveled even less than George Bush," Blanchett jokes.
Selling this sequel
"Until the story started to emerge I just didn't see it," Blanchett confessed at the film's Toronto press conference.
"There are endless possibilities with Elizabeth. She's endlessly fascinating as is the period."
Tackling Queen Bess the first time around wasn't a cake walk for the commanding actress.
"Playing her in the first film did change a lot for me. Having to be that responsible to drive a film -- I'd never done it before," says Blanchett.
Yet revisiting Elizabeth in Kapur's epic new installment was an offer the acclaimed star could not refuse.
"For me this is a very interior, internal film, despite the armada that's out there and all the action," says Blanchett.
"The first film was about a woman denying herself. This one is about a woman's acceptance of who she is and the fact that she's aging. Also the love triangle makes it different."
Kapur's directorial style infused a sense of life and death into every single moment on screen -- and appealed to this "thinking woman's" actress.
Surrounded by stunning architecture and opulent costumes coloured to reflect each character's emotions, "Shekhar creates a constant sense of danger," says Blanchett.
Co-star Geoffrey Rush nods in agreement.
"It's like being in an opera without the singing," he laughs.
"Although singing was always considered," the amused actress interjects.
Relevant and sexy
"There's no point in making a movie unless it is contemporary to our times," says director Kapur.
Hiring actors with a sense of fearlessness is another prerequisite for this filmmaker.
"Making a film isn't about directing. It's about letting a film get made," says Kapur. "I walk onto the set and realize my biggest fear is knowing what to do. That's why I need actors who are fearless."
That this film's issues like betrayal, love, mortality, power and sex ring so true to 21st century audiences is no surprise to Kapur.
"Fundamentally what relates to people around the world is the mythological. I see love as mythological and eternal. I see betrayal as mythological and eternal. It's that underlying sense of the mythology of life that moves this movie beyond a political film or a psychological film."
As Kapur says, "This is a sexy film. Mortality is sexy."
Clive Owen, too, the director adds, infuses a level of timeless sex appeal to Sir Walter Raleigh. "He wasn't just macho. He was a man who represented essential masculinity in his time," says Kapur.
"Raleigh's also a man exploring his dreams. It's no wonder that Elizabeth is drawn to him."
Blanchett's passionate portrayal of this God anointed but torn ruler proves that attraction.
Yet as deeply intelligent and captivating as England's queen is, Blanchett says, "I have a private life that I can fall back on. I wouldn't like to be as isolated as she is."
- Constance Droganes,entertainment writer, CTV.ca
