Mary Queen of Scots (2018)

My Review

“Mary Queen of Scots” is an historical drama film about Mary Stuart, who returns to Scotland from France in 1561 to reclaim her throne. She is not well received by either the Protestant population or her cousin, Queen Elizabeth of England, who views her as a threat. First time director Josie Rourke turned out a film which was plagued with unfocused direction and bad writing. She tried to make the film “politically correct” with nude scenes and emphasis on sex. The uneven screenplay was penned by Beau Willimon.

The performances by the leading actresses are mixed, with Australian Margot Robbie shining as Queen Elizabeth I, and Saoirse Ronan of Ireland crashing and burning in the title role. David Tennant delivers a standout performance as John Knox, the Protestant Reformer who opposed Mary and later founded the Presbyterian Church (Church of Scotland). He was famous for playing the tenth Doctor Who (2005-2010) and later the fourteenth Doctor (2023). Co-stars include Guy Pearce, Jack Lowden, Joe Alwyn, Gemma Chan.

“Mary Queen of Scots” was a modest hit at the box office for Perfect World Pictures, Working Title Films, and Universal Pictures. It was primarily filmed on location in Scotland and England.