Mary Queen of Scots

 Mary Queen of Scots 2018

• Director: Josie Rourke
• Based on the book by: John Guy
• Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, Jack Lowden, Joe Alwyn, Adrian Lester, Guy Pearce, Gemma Chan, David Tennant
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Saoirse Ronan – Lady Bird, Brooklyn, Hanna, Atonement
• Margot Robbie – The Suicide Squad, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Terminal, I Tonya, The Wolf of Wall Street, About Time
• Jack Lowden – Fighting with My Family, Dunkirk, A United Kingdom, Wolf Hall
• Joe Alwyn – The Favourite
• Adrian Lester – London Spy, Hustle, Merlin, Bonekickers, Doomsday, As You Like It, Day After Tomorrow, Hamlet, Born Romantic, Love’s Labour’s Lost
• Guy Pearce – Genius, Prometheus, The King’s Speech, The Road, A Slipping Down Life, The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert,
• Gemma Chan – Humans, Doctor Who
• David Tennant – Around the World in Eighty Days, Deadwater Fell, Jessica Jones, Broadchurch, What We Did on Our Holiday, Doctor Who, The Politician’s Husband, Much Ado About Nothing, Fright Night, The Decoy Bride, United, Hamlet, Kick-Ass Girls St Trianian’s, Glorious 39, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Casanova, Blackpool, Bright Young Things, Jude, Takin’ Over the Asylum
• Why? The cast and the subject
• Seen: 29 July 2022      

       Protestant Elizabeth I (Robbie) is on the English throne. Catholic Mary (Ronan) is on the Scottish throne. The battle between the Protestants and the Catholics has been a long and bloody one. Mary and Elizabeth promise to respect each other’s religion and love one another like sisters. Only Mary wants Elizabeth’s throne, and if not that, to be named her successor.

       Like the history it’s based on, all the intrigue and conniving are confusing and a little boring but the film sorts things out. The characters of Mary and Elizabeth as portrayed here are wonderful, superbly played by Ronan and Robbie. My respect for Robbie grows with every film I see her in. The fanatical John Knox with his long flowing black hair and beard is scarcely recognisable as David Tennant. It was his voice that betrayed him.

       So many people hate this film, giving it 1* reviews and ranting hysterically (sorry, but that’s what they’re doing) about it being historically inaccurate and too politically correct with its black and Asian actors, its acceptance of homosexuality and its hint of feminism. To that I have two answers 1) It’s not all that inaccurate and besides this is a film not a documentary, so calm down! 2) What’s your problem? Read your history. There were a lot more people of colour in Elizabethan England than you seem to think. Homosexuality was as common as it is now and accepted more than you seem to think. To be the strong queens these two women were, they had to be feminists though they wouldn’t recognise the word or admit it if they did. In my experience, people who are upset about political correctness are racists, homophobes and misogynists.  

       Well, back to the film. It’s visually pleasing, highly entertaining, and quite gripping. In fact, it’s rather splendid. 

4* of 5