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Mary Queen of Scots

Country: UK | USA, Language: English, 124 mins

  • Director: Josie Rourke
  • Writer: Beau Willmon
  • Producer: Tim Bevan

CGiii Comment

Unquestionably, without doubt...no dispute...this is the worst historical drama ever filmed/written.

When 'political correctness' starts to re-write history, it is a [sad] reflection on how ludicrous 'things' have become. Some may call this revisionism, it is not...it is fabrication, shabbily disguised as revisionism. True...some revisionists are just creative liars [as is the case here]...however, many other revisionists seek the truth, peeling back the many layers of fiction to uncover the actual fact. Think of revisionism as provenance...without it, it is merely a fake, a fraud, a fiasco...as is the case here!

Mary [Queen of Strumpets [quote], with multiple ear-piercings] never met with [I am more of a man than a woman] Elizabeth...yet, they do...in this - mangled-beyond-recognition - fictional account.

Mary's husband, a perfectly coiffured [bisexual] Lothario...well, he bonks one her Ladies-in-Waiting...who is a man, who identifies as a woman, who is forgiven...because, he was being true to him/herself...as he - unwittingly - fell for the charms and into the bed of Lord Darnley. Mary [aka Nicola Sturgeon] embraces, understands and accepts all of her diverse kith and kin...unless they go against her brand of idealistic [not-very-well-thought-out] politics!

As for diversity...well, Scotland [and the privy council] in the 1500s were as [racially] diverse as London is now...who would have 'thunked' it!?! The casting director 'thunked' it. We'll just make it up as we go along...seems to be the mantra that everyone adopted in the making of this film.

Few theatre directors manage to bridge the gigantic gap from stage to screen, Josie Rourke [with this, her debut feature] crashes and burns in her own theatricality - the Queens' meeting, with all those sheets in the way...it may work in the theatre, not on film. That Last Supper reference! As for the beheading...what beheading?!? Theatrical tosh! The most dramatic part of the story...failed to make it to screen! What?!?

Moreover, for her to accept this appalling script as it is/was then...is/was nothing short of short-sighted negligence. Obviously, she and the writer either disagreed about nothing...or, never actually conferred.

Beau Willimon's screenplay is like a severe attack of gout...well, that's what happens when an overly opulent imagination is let loose! Irresponsible to history...and, criminal, to say the least.

It it all bad? Yes...apart from Jack Lowden's perfectly modern hair and eye-popping package, James McArdle's eyeliner, Mary's multiple piercings and that [laughably] theatrical [rip-off] dress...'Makeup and Hairstyling' and 'Costume Design' both received Oscar nominations. Seriously?!?

One thing is for sure: Nicola Sturgeon, along with her kith & kin, will, undoubtedly, love it! Because, they all live in a world of make believe. That's Ho[l]ly[w]rood for ya!


Trailer...

The(ir) Blurb...

Mary Queen of Scots explores the turbulent life of the charismatic Mary Stuart. Queen of France at 16 and widowed at 18, Mary defies pressure to remarry. Instead, she returns to her native Scotland to reclaim her rightful throne. But Scotland and England fall under the rule of the compelling Elizabeth I. Each young Queen beholds her "sister" in fear and fascination. Rivals in power and in love, and female regents in a masculine world, the two must decide how to play the game of marriage versus independence. Determined to rule as much more than a figurehead, Mary asserts her claim to the English throne, threatening Elizabeth's sovereignty. Betrayal, rebellion, and conspiracies within each court imperil both thrones - and change the course of history.

Cast & Characters

Saoirse Ronan as Mary Stuart;
Margot Robbie as Queen Elizabeth I;
Guy Pearce as Sir William Cecil ;
David Tennant as Anthony Babington;
Jack Lowden as Lord Darnley;
Joe Alwyn as Robert Dudley;
Maria Dragus as Mary Fleming;
Eileen O'Higgins as Mary Beaton;
Liah O'Prey as Mary Livingston;
Izuka Hoyle as Mary Seton;
Brendan Coyle as Earl of Lennox;
Martin Compston as Earl of Bothwell;
Gemma Chan as Bess of Hardwick;
Ismael Cruz Cordova as Rizzio;
Lee Starkey as Nobleman;
Kal Sabir as Moray Man #3