Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Kapur's 1998 film dealt with Elizabeth's early reign. She's now been in power 27 years and is still doing an intricate political dance to keep her head and her Protestant throne against the Catholic opposition, who want Mary, Queen of Scots (Morton) ruling in her place. Then there's pesky Philip II of Spain (Molla) and his armada threatening her shores. Blanchett returns in the titular role as does Rush as spymaster Walsingham. Owen's cast as a swashbuckling Sir Walter Raleigh (very Errol Flynn), whom Elizabeth uses as a distraction. Lavish pomp and circumstance, but a disappointingly routine costumer.