Mary Queen of Scots

Mary Queen of Scots

Starring Saoirse Ronan, Margot Robbie, Jack Lowden, Joe Alwyn

Directed by Josie Rourke

The Story:
While Queen Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie) rules over England, her cousin Mary (Saoirse Ronan) rules over Scotland, and both lands are heavily involved in a religious battle between Protestants and Catholics.  While the male leaders around them try to sway the women to their side, they remain steadfast in their beliefs and rules, and Mary continually converses with Elizabeth by letters, often asking her to name her the successor to her rule.  Elizabeth fears Mary's desire for the throne, and when Mary becomes pregnant by her second husband Lord Darnley (Jack Lowden), Elizabeth fears it all the more.  Yet Mary herself has bigger issues to deal with, as a maniacal preacher and her half-brother desire for her throne, and set up several events that challenges her right to the throne.

The Synopsis:
Power, intrigue, romance, murder, lies, deception, envy...the true Game of Thrones.  Such was life in England and Scotland in the mid 1500s, as both countries faced power struggles due to the aggressive rule of women in an otherwise male-dominated society.  In all the recent talks about breaking the glass ceiling, both Elizabeth I and Mary broke it centuries ago, but with very differing results.

Two of cinema's most powerful actresses portray two of history's most powerful female leaders in perfect ways, portraying a sheer elegance with fierce determination in a way that electrifies the screen.  Saoirse Ronan portrays Mary as a cold, calculating woman who desires to sit on the throne of all of England, and maintains a few steps ahead of her male counterparts.  She knows she must supply a male heir, and does everything in her power to make that happen.  Conversely, Margot Robbie portrays Elizabeth I as a steely, independent woman who knows that she will never provide a child, and considers herself more a man than a woman.  She maintains a constant balance pretty much throughout the film, as she continually worries that Mary - or her potential offspring - will usurp her authority.

Seeing these two women in action is pure brilliance, even if the story itself has something to be desired.  Most of the negative comments about the film center around the fact that it's not true to actual history, but I've rarely seen a film that really maintains true to its historical accuracy.  If I want to be educated about history, I would read a history book or take a history class, but when I go to the movies to see a period piece, I go to be entertained and see powerful performances, and to that end "Mary Queen of Scots" didn't disappoint.

To further enhance the performances of Ronan and Robbie, the film delivers all the window dressings you'd expect from a period piece of this caliber.  The costume designs are bold and beautiful, and the set pieces further allocate how each woman rules their respective lands.  Mary's Scotland is full of windowless castles, drab costumes, and an overall grey tone.  Conversely, Elizabeth's England is full of light, with colorful decorum and costumes, and the Queen herself is often decked in color attire, including her fiery red hairpieces.  It's a stark contrast that you can't help but notice, and further adds to the dilemmas both women deal with.

While Elizabeth's rule isn't often challenged by her male counterparts, Mary faces opposition at every turn, and basically there's no one she can trust.  Her half-brother raises a civil war against her, the Protestant cleric calls her a harlot and raises a rebellion, and her second husband conspires to take her throne.  She can't escape her destiny, and she's forced to maintain a strong resolve through the harshest of opposition, continually having to stay two steps ahead of everyone around her if she wishes to not only keep control of Scotland, but England as well.

The film's denouement occurs when the two queens finally meet face-to-face (which is the most historically inaccurate event, as there's no evidence that the women ever met in person), and we witness pure acting brilliance on screen as Margot Robbie and Saoirse Ronan give chilling performances as they confront each other.  That scene itself is well worth the price of admission, even if it never really happened.

The Summary:
Despite playing fast and loose with historical facts, "Mary Queen of Scots" holds firm due to the powerful performances of Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie who give spellbinding performances.

The Score: A