Following attempts by her heirless sister Mary to thwart her succession, Elizabeth (Cate Blanchett) takes the throne to command a troubled empire, one on the verge of bankruptcy and with a lacking army incapable of warding off imminent French and Spanish plots. Adding to this betrayal in her own court and the return of a banished lover (Joseph Fiennes), the young Queen learns the ropes of her reign and quickly demonstrates the tenacity which would predominate the following Golden Age of her rule. "Elizabeth" is most notable for Blanchett's whirlwind performance, and Geoffrey Rush is also good in a supporting role as a dubious member of her court. The love story with Fiennes is haphazard, much of the material is dull, and this story really calls for a more adept writer and director.
