(2.5 / 4)
This historical drama is worth the price of admission alone for Margot Robbie’s transformative performance. However, plotting issues and overly imaginative historical inaccuracies get in the way and prevent Mary Queen of Scots from fully shining as a compelling character study.
Mary Queen of Scots, directed by Josie Rourke, is largely being marketed as a clash between two distinct queens who both believe themselves to be the rightful ruler of a divided country. With a screenplay from the former showrunner of House of Cards, Beau Willimon, it seems reasonable to expect a series of political maneuvers and machinations from each opposing monarch until a victor is ultimately crowned. The film, however, is largely not the story being advertised, as the film instead offers a feminist slant on historical events which cleverly plays with audience expectations of the ensuing conflict. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as the film is suitably thought-provoking and riveting at times, even if the story is not without its issues.
Continue reading “MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS: A Queen’s Place in a Man’s World”