In search of one Cate Blanchett’s great performances, I rented the historical drama Elizabeth. Blanchett received an Oscar nomination for the role but lost out to Gweneth Paltrow who played the object of William Shakespeare’s desire in Shakespeare in Love. I suspect that Paltrow won not because she was more in love than Elizabeth.  Paltrow simply had more luck in landing a love story that is cheerful, sassy, and as far as I remember has a romantic ending. Blanchett’s Elizabeth love life starts promising (she is young, her lover is good looking and charming (xx Fiennes plays is the counterpart in both films), but then turns sour and barren. Without Blanchett’s superb acting, Elizabeth would have been rather disappointing. Although Elizabeth repeatedly says that she only wants to do what is best for her people, we never see commoners. The entire film takes place in the social sphere of the court (one exception is a battlefield onto which bodies of average people including a small child are strewn). I would have liked to find out a little bit more how her people lived and reacted to Elizabeth actions.

(one exception is a battlefield onto which bodies of average people including a small child are strewn). I would have liked to find out a little bit more how her people lived and reacted to Elizabeth actions.