April 20, 2006
PRIME MIRREN:
Mirren's 'Elizabeth' a fiery, flirty monarch (DOUG ELFMAN, April 20, 2006, Chicago Sun-Times)
I asked Helen Mirren if she is drawn to characters whose emotional cores are most like her own. No, she said, and that's when she laid out one of most confident lines I've heard from an actor."I'm emotionally capable as an actress to reach great heights. I can do that," Mirren said.
Is she ever right. In "Elizabeth," Mirren plays Elizabeth I -- during the last few decades of the English queen's life -- with the dynamics of a fine musician. She is elegantly pianissimo (quiet) during romantic interludes with Robert Dudley (Jeremy Irons). She's playfully mezzo-forte (medium loud) while charming her political court.
ELIZABETH I
PART ONE / ***
7 to 9 p.m. Saturday (repeating at 1 p.m. Sunday, 5:15 p.m. Monday and 8 p.m. Tuesday) on HBO.PART TWO / **
7 to 9 p.m. Monday (repeating at 8 p.m. Thursday and 3:25 a.m. Friday) on HBO.And then comes the fortissimo (very loud) as Elizabeth shouts down an underling who has informed her of assassination plots. [...]
This could sound strange, but Mirren is a fantastic screamer.
Though no Karen Flores. Posted by Orrin Judd at April 20, 2006 9:24 AM
Glenda Jackson did a great job in "Elizabeth R." It was kind of a 70's era low budget BBC affair (I kept expecting Tom Baker to show up) but cracking good acting and historical veracity.
Posted by: Bryan at April 20, 2006 10:02 AMAnne Marie Duff does a very good version in "The Virgin Queen" as well. Its basically an updated version of "Elizabeth R" where they have more money to spend on sets, etc. Like not using the same hallway for half the scenes! Glenda Jackson nailed the character and makes it a treat to watch.
Posted by: rps at April 20, 2006 11:57 AM