Mary Queen of Scots movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Mary Queen of Scots (2018)

RATING: R

LENGTH: 112 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: C

IN A NUTSHELL: Did you ever get into watching the popular TV show Reign: The Complete Series (1-4)? Well, this is nothing like that. Ha ha Both, however, would be called revisionist history in filmmaking, as neither one is very accurate in portraying the real history of Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots (2018) in the 16^th Century.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Most kids will be very bored. Many adults will be too.
Some blood and talk of a women’s period.
Some pre-marital and forced marital hanky-panky. You don’t see much skin, but you hear noises and see pleasured faces.
A man dressed as a woman
Two men in bed together
Violence with blood
Men kill a homosexual
Spoken French

THEMES:

“There are times for wisdom and there are times for love, but there are also times for strength.” – Mary Queen of Scots
“Respect is not the same thing as love.” – Mary Queen of Scots (2018)
Power, authority
Hypocrisy

THINGS I LIKED:

Saoirse Ronan is fantastic, as always. She was the perfect choice for this role as Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. She and Margot Robbie have competed twice against each other for an Academy Best Actress Award in 2017 and 2018. Despite both of their excellent performances in this movie, neither was nominated for this movie in 2019. Their only scene together in this movie takes place towards the very end and is a powerful scene where they confront each other’s personal and political choices.
The movie definitely makes you want to learn more about this fascinating time and place in history. It truly transports you to another time and place.
It’s an interesting look at how two women monarchs had to live and fight in an era truly ruled by men.
Beautiful costume design.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Most people won’t like seeing the beautiful Margot Robbie covered in smallpox and then later with caked-on white make-up as Queen Elizabeth, but it’s actually what she wore when she declared herself the Virgen Queen.
Some dark scenes that will make viewing on computer monitors or small TV’s difficult once the film goes to streaming.
Lots of political talk in hushed tones.
It’s pretty slow-moving.
Most historical pieces like this one make me wonder how much of it is truth vs. Hollywood fiction. It seemed like director Josie Rourke was trying very hard to be politically correct by including a diverse cast and homosexual/transgender issues.

INTERESTING LINES:

“England does not look so different from Scotland.” – Mary Queen of Scots (2018)

“Aye, they are sisters.” – old man

“I am more man than woman now. This throne has made me so.” – Elizabeth
“Your fate rests in your own hands.” – Elizabeth
“If she is anything like our queen, she does not yield to a bridle.” – English councilor speaking about Mary Queen of Scots (2018).
“I will not become a Henry VIII, dispensing husbands and he did wives.” – Mary
“I have relinquished all sense of self to the throne.” – Queen Elizabeth

OTHER MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

Elizabeth