The battle for the crown has always been a bloodthirsty ordeal. No matter the era or countries involved, people die in droves as the wheels of dominance of one race, creed or religion wants to rise to the top. Sometimes those with the crown are only pawns in a more dastardly scheme where those in the shadows are the ones pulling the strings. All that can be known for sure is that being a ruler of any land or people definitely has its negatives. Mary Queen of Scots explores one such story.
With so many countries in close proximity in Europe, there are are constant struggles for power between families that are related in some fashion or another. Mary Stuart (Saoirse Ronan) is the widowed Queen of France but wishes to also become the queen of her native land, Scotland. The dilemma here is that Scotland is currently under the rule of Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie), who is also the Queen of England and with it, she carries a lot of weight. While Mary hopes to reason with her cousin, advisers and others won’t allow that to happen. In a time where men usually in positions of power. These two women rise above monarchy of men to spread the wealth of women. Mary Queen of Scots pits a young woman on the rise against another woman who has experience and might on her side.
Mary Queen of Scots features some solid acting from both Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie. That said, the standout performance that needs to be recognized is that of the team responsible for the shocking visual transformation of Margot Robbie as Queen Elizabeth upon contracting Smallpox. Knowing that she is such a beautiful lady and then to see what the weight of the crown along with the illness that she suffered did to her, you’re just amazed at the finished product.
While Mary Queen of Scots lacks the element of occasional lightheartedness that other period piece movies have also been released this week, the tone of this historical biopic feels real and very authentic. As far as debuts go, first-time director Josie Rourke does a nice job staying on point and giving entertainment value to this story. Armed with a strong supporting cast, its plot should provide enough substance for audiences to find enjoyment in the royal drama that unfolds. That said, if you are truly up on your history as it is known to be, you may find that there are some aspects that are not quite correct. Either way, you can check out the challenge to the throne in theaters now.
