MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS   2.8****  (Same rating as I gave” The Favourite”)

    MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS takes an earthy, feminist view of the infamous 16th Century squabble between the Scottish ruler Queen Mary (Saoirse Ronan) and her cousin Queen Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie,”) of England and Ireland. Director Josie Rourke does a decent job of putting the viewer through the usual paces of battles, intrigue and deceit in these monarchy stories. What sets the movie apart from the average are the two actresses. Ronan ( excellent in LADY BIRD) reminds us that many of these Monarchs were but mere teens when they ascend to power. Mary is 18 when the story begins (having already been married at 16 and widowed). Ronan shows both the strength of her character, but also the impetuousness of youth - young lust among them. Robbie ( excellent in “I, Tonya) has never been better, particularly as the movie moves along and her choices become more and more difficult. Credit, too, for putting herself through some pretty hideous-looking makeup because Elizabeth suffered a bad case of chicken pox that left her face scarred.  The costuming, make-up and hair styling is spot on. The sets and outdoor locations are awesome. The rest of the cast acquits themselves well, even in the shadow of the dominating female leads.  

Part of Mary's problem and part of why Scotland ceased being an independent country is that they had for so many years had a succession of child monarchs with regencies/ruling nobles doing the governing. That meant power struggles and intrigue perpetually among the nobles. These guys were used to having their way and no young even strong minded widow from France, Mary, was going to come over and rule them absolutely. The Nobles are constantly intriguing against her and trying to bring her down in favor of a MAN being crowned King.

Secondly and probably more importantly, she was in a country where the Protestant reformation had taken place as in England. Leading the reformation in Scotland is John Knox and he's played with fanatical intensity by David Tennant. Knox constantly attacks Mary as being sexually promiscuous with both straight and gay men (eventually he calls her a slutty “Whore”) and even more horrible as being a puppet of the Pope in Rome. These fiery orations ultimately cause the Scottish people to turn against Mary. The rest you can see for yourself although from the opening scene in the movie you know she is beheaded.

    

Unfortunately the writing brings down a film that had the potential to be a real Oscar contender. It’s a historically interesting story for sure, but it needed better direction to get to a finished product that gives the viewers what they seek. Its decently enjoyable overall but I wanted to really be blown away because there seemed to be so much going for it. Simply stated the script is too dull to excite. There are moments that grasp you only to let you go too soon r for which I fault the director..

Rated R (for some violence and sexuality)