Mary Queen of Scots

12/7/20182h 4m

Theatrical (limited) Release (US)

~ Bow to No One ~

Overview:

In 1561, Mary Stuart, widow of the King of France, returns to Scotland, reclaims her rightful throne and menaces the future of Queen Elizabeth I as ruler of England, because she has a legitimate claim to the English throne. Betrayals, rebellions, conspiracies and their own life choices imperil both Queens. They experience the bitter cost of power, until their tragic fate is finally fulfilled.

Director:

Josie Rourke

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$25,000,000.00

Revenue:

$46,712,809.00

Key words:

based on novel or book
scotland
cousin
royal family
biography
queen elizabeth i
tudor
female prisoner
burlesque
cousin relationship
woman director
16th century
british monarchy
house of stuart
apathetic

Cast

Saoirse Ronan

~ as ~

Mary Stuart

Margot Robbie

~ as ~

Queen Elizabeth I

Jack Lowden

~ as ~

Lord Darnley

David Tennant

~ as ~

John Knox

Guy Pearce

~ as ~

William Cecil

Gemma Chan

~ as ~

Bess of Hardwick

James McArdle

~ as ~

James, Earl of Moray

Ismael Cruz Cordova

~ as ~

David Rizzio

Martin Compston

~ as ~

Earl of Bothwell

Joe Alwyn

~ as ~

Robert Dudley

View full cast & crew

Reviews (6)

Gimly
Written 6 year(s) ago
4
Thinking about them just in terms of their visual appearnce, Saoirse Ronan probably should have played Queen Elizabeth I instead of Mary, and Margot Robbie probably should have played Not In This Movie.

Perhaps it could have performed better, had it not come out the same year as both Outlaw King and The Favourite, as its content lies somewhere between the two, but its quality pales to either.

Final rating:★★ - Definitely not for me, but I sort of get the appeal.
T
TheRealMina
Written 6 year(s) ago
1
This movie is complete trash. Watch only if you want modern politics shoved down your throat.

The movie focuses more on LGBT rights then events related to the setting the movie takes place. Poor casting choices, horrible acting from A-list actors and low budget sets.

Not worth streaming. Not worth pirating. Not worthing Seeding. Not worth the popcorn.
John Chard
Written 5 year(s) ago
3
We have a scourge upon our land. 'Tis worse than pestilence and famine. 'Tis a woman with a crown. Mary Stuart's (Saoirse Ronan) attempt to overthrow her cousin Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie), Queen of England, finds her condemned to years of imprisonment before facing execution.

Directed by Josie Rourke and written by Bau Willimon and John Guy, Mary Queen of Scots is the latest in a long line of historical costumers that fudge history to suit heir own ends. From a technical standpoint it's top draw, design, costuming and lead acting performances are quality - though Mary herself ends up being more cartoonish than anything resembling a tragic historical figure. Sadly, though, the narrative goes round and round in circles and ends up in a politically correct fog.

The pace is laborious, which makes the two hour run time something of a chore to get through. There's little dangles of spice, with attempts at gay acceptance and oral pleasure etc etc, and things hit an upward curve in the latter stages, there's even some smarts in the narrative where obsession with rites and rules of succession threaten to turn the pic into exciting politico/religio waters. Alas, it's a false dawn, to the point where the costume design becomming the best thing in a production speaks volumes about a badly - on the page - historical drama. 3/10
John Chard
Written 5 year(s) ago
3
We have a scourge upon our land. 'Tis worse than pestilence and famine. 'Tis a woman with a crown.

Mary Stuart's (Saoirse Ronan) attempt to overthrow her cousin Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie), Queen of England, finds her condemned to years of imprisonment before facing execution.

Directed by Josie Rourke and written by Beau Willimon and John Guy, Mary Queen of Scots is the latest in a long line of historical costumers that fudge history to suit heir own ends. From a technical standpoint it's top draw, design, costuming and lead acting performances are quality - though Mary herself ends up being more cartoonish than anything resembling a tragic historical figure. Sadly, though, the narrative goes round and round in circles and ends up in a politically correct fog. The pace is laborious, which makes the two hour run time something of a chore to get through. There's little dangles of spice, with attempts at gay acceptance and oral pleasure etc etc, and things hit an upward curve in the latter stages, there's even some smarts in the narrative where obsession with rites and rules of succession threaten to turn the pic into exciting politico/religio waters. Alas, it's a false dawn, to the point where the costume design becoming the best thing in a production speaks volumes about a badly - on the page - historical drama. 3/10
CinemaSerf
Written 3 year(s) ago
5
Unfortunately there are just too many flaws in this depiction of the life of Mary Stuart to itemise. The writing rather clumsily imposes a 21st century slant on 16th century Scottish history and seems more bent on imposing the morals and opinions of the former on the times and scenarios of the latter. Neither principal performance is particularly engaging; and Jack Lowden and Joe Alwyn are frankly hopeless as the sexually ambiguous "Darnley" and "Leicester" respectively. The Oscar nominations for Make-up and Costume are certainly well deserved, but really do epitomise the style-over-substance emphasis of this weak adaptation of one of history's greatest rivalries.

View All