Elizabeth: The Golden Age

"Pound for pound, minute for minute, Elizabeth: The Golden Age could possibly contain more sustained church-bashing than any other film I can think of. How is it possible that this orgy of anti-Catholicism has been all but ignored by most critics?" Steven D. Greydanus, National Catholic Register

You know what they say... If something's controversial, chances are it's good.

And although Elizabeth: The Golden Age didn't register as anti-Catholic propaganda with me, it did prove to be a hugely entertaining historical adventure about one of the most thrilling chapters in English history.

The Golden Age

Made almost a decade after the academy award-winning Elizabeth, Elizabeth: The Golden Age is a sumptuous sequel that's starkly different to it's predecessor.

The first film was introspective and largely character driven, chronicling the early reign of Queen Elizabeth. In contrast, The Golden Age takes place further into Elizabeth's reign - when it was not just conspiracy her nation faced - but outright invasion.

The plot of The Golden Age is suitably more epic, climaxing in an sumptuously rendered battle between the Spanish Armada and the embattled English fleet.

Elizabeth the Queen

The climax of the first film saw Elizabeth hack off her flaming red hair and become reborn as the 'Virgin Queen' of England. It's this cold, aloof and desperately lonely woman that we follow throughout The Golden Age - played with precision by a sublime Cate Blanchett.

Her portrayal of Elizabeth illustrates the conflict between Elizabeth the woman - intensely vain and vulnerable, living vicariously through her trusted lady-in-waiting Elizabeth Throckmorton - and Elizabeth the Queen - a magnificent, decisive and powerful leader who was the equal of any man.

Blanchett's portrayal is pitch perfect. Her Elizabeth is both sympathetic and terrifying - one minute alarmed at her crows-feet and fading beauty - the next leading a charge across the white cliffs of Dover to give her troops a stirring speech worthy of Churchill himself.

The rest of the cast is solid as well, with Geoffrey Rush reprising his role as Elizabeth's confident Sir Francis Walsingham - while Clive Owen is a slightly cocky Sir Walter Raleigh, winning Elizabeth's heart while simultaneously bedding her favourite lady-in-waiting (the delicious Abbie Cornish.)

The cinematography is sumptuous. Glorious English landmarks (such as Winchester Cathedral) stand in for seemingly mundane locations (like Elizabeth's bath-chamber and bedroom.) The costumes are magnificent, too - even more so than the first film. Careful attention to detail brings the Elizabethan era vividly to life on-screen.

The violent climax is thrilling - rendered almost like a painting-come-to-life through powerful CGI effects.

All in all, Elizabeth: The Golden Age is a real treat of a film. As with most historical dramas, the actual facts don't always match up with what happens in the script, but what historical liberties have been taken seem to have contributed to the overall look and feel of the film, rather than detracted from it.

As the credits rolled, I found myself thinking that I'd enjoyed The Golden Age far more than the original Elizabeth. It's rare than a sequel manages to prove better than the first film, but The Golden Age managed to do so by building on the first movie's solid foundations.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age is available on DVD now.

Angel-A

Wildly popular director Luc Besson, whose big-screen hits include The Fifth Element and La Femme Nikita, is these days most often thought of as a big-budget, all-action artist.

But this wildly prolific producer also lends his name and expertise to movies that aren't filled with explosions, movie-stars and mighty-morphin' Peugeot 205 Taxi cabs.

One such example is Angel-A.

This 2005 movie only recently made it to America - but it was worth the wait.

Angel-A is the story of a down-on-his-luck gambler and con-artist played by French comedy legend Jamel Debbouze (in 2002, the highest paid actor in France.)

After running up thousands of Euros worth of debt with seedy Paris crooks, Jamal's character, André, decides to toss himself into the Seine before the loan sharks he's defaulted on track him down and do it for him.

But before he can jump, he spots a leggy blond in an inexplicably short dress throw herself into the river first - so diving off the Pont Alexandre III, Jamal rescues the drowning beauty (which is quite a feat, since André is a tiny little man with only one arm.)

Once they emerge, dripping, onto the banks of the Seine, the blond introduces herself as Angela - and proceeds to tag along with André as he abandons suicide and tries to settle his debts. As miraculous things start to occur, André begins to wonder if Angela is more than just a statuesque blond. Could she really be his guardian angel?

Understated

Angel-A is, unsurprisingly, a uniquely French movie.

There are several things about this moody black-and-white film that just wouldn't translate to an America version - for example, how stunning Angela (played by ridiculously slim, statuesque Danish model Rie Rasmussen) could find short, scruffy André so captivating.

But that's what gives the movie it's charm - that and the wonderfully absurd relationship between the two leads (for example, at 5'5", Jamal is dwarfed by stiletto-heeled Rie Rasmussen.)

It's also funny, even after the jokes get translated into Americanized subtitles. I cracked up when Andé, attempting to seek protection from the loan sharks, demands a Gendarme lock him up. When the policeman refuses, he cries: "I'm an Arab with no identification! Are you kidding me?"

Another amusing scene features Angela soliciting money in a manner very different to the sordid means André is imagining.

Satisfying

Although a movie like this can only end happily, Luc Besson's script is anything but predictable. It's a very satisfying merry-go-round ride and all filmed against the backdrop of a postcard-perfect (and strangely deserted) Paris.

If you're looking for a 'French-fix' than Angel-A delivers everything you could ask for. The City of Lights. That typical Besson charm and wit. The wonderful Jamal in all his stuttering, awkward glory and a cute, romantic storyline that'll leave you uplifted when the credits start rolling.

Angel-A is available from Blockbuster.