Friday 2 September
The Other Boleyn Girl
8:35pm, SBS
M
UK/USA, 2008
Director: Justin Chadwick
Starring: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana
What's it about?
Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson bring sibling rivalry to new heights (depths?) as Anne and Mary Boleyn, two ambitious sisters competing for the affections of King Henry VIII (Eric Bana). A sumptuous and sensual tale of intrigue, romance and betrayal set against the backdrop of a defining moment in European history.
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Friday 9 September
Elizabeth
8:35pm, SBS
MA15+
USA, 1998
Director: Shekhar Kapur
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush
What's it about?Cate the great found international fame with her portrayal of the young Queen Elizabeth, as she evolves from a young romantic into an aloof and ruthless monarch.
From the archives: Watch The Movie Show's original review
Must-see: Watch our 'before she was famous' interview with Cate Blanchett
Friday 16 September
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
8:35pm, SBS
PG
UK, 2007
Director: Shekhar Kapur
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Clive Owen, Abbie Cornish, Geoffrey Rush
What's it about?Cate reigns supreme in this return to the story of the Virgin Queen, whose throne is threatened by Mary Queen of Scots and an impending war with Spain. As always there are threats closer to home, as her love interest Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen) takes a shine to her own handmaiden (Abbie Cornish).
From the archives: Read our review
Friday 23 September
The Madness of King George
8:35pm, SBS
PG
UK, 1994
Director: Nicholas Hytner
Starring: Nigel Hawthorne, Helen Mirren, Rupert Everett
What's it about?
Nigel Hawthorne was nominated for an Oscar for his complex portrayal of King George III, whose episodes of erratic behaviour led to a Parliamentary plot to have him declared insane and dethroned. Helen Mirren is at her regal best as King George's devoted wife, 12 years before the actress won an Oscar for The Queen.
From the archives: Watch The Movie Show's review
Friday 30 September
Hyde Park on the Hudson
8:35pm, SBS
M
UK, 2012
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
Language: English
Director: Roger Michell
Starring: Bill Murray, Laura Linney, Olivia Williams
What's it about?
In this quirky take on a moment in time, Bill Murray cuts a lonely figure as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The leader conceals his disability from the public and finds a cosy confidante in his distant cousin Daisy (Laura Linney), who offers a level of conversation (and a whole lot more) that he can't get from his wife. The imminent arrival of the King and Queen of England brings global tensions to boiling point on the eve of WW2, with awkward and hilarious results.
