#REVIEW Mary Queen of Scots

Katy Perry or Taylor Swift? Cardi B or Nicki Minaj? Can there ever be two queens? And if so, can they exist together harmoniously?

This is the big question underlying Mary Queen of Scots, out this weekend and starring two of the biggest actresses today, Margot Robbie and  Saoirse Ronan. 

Ronan portrays the fiery Mary, who has returned to Scotland following the death of her husband, King Francis II of France. She’s back and ready to take over the throne that her half brother has been overseeing in her absence. However, the people of Scotland aren’t ready for a change in leadership as the country remains mostly Protestant and Mary has become a devout Catholic due to her marriage.

Not far away, Queen Elizabeth (Robbie), Mary’s cousin, has been ruling her court well but her cousin’s return brings fear to the Queen as there is now another who could take her throne. As Mary has a sizeable claim to the throne, so Elizabeth begins her plotting of how to get Mary out of the way, including marrying off her true love Robert Dudley (Joe Alwyn) to her cousin.

From there, the two cousins face off against each other without actually meeting, plotting against each other. In reality though, they waste time plotting against each other when it should be against the men who surround them. Throughout the film, the two women deal with the meddling men of their lives, from Elizabeth’s court to Mary’s scheming husband.

Because of that the film presents itself with a very feminist viewpoint, as the female characters prove time after time they are capable of running their country if only the men surrounding them could step back and let them be.

Universal Pictures releases Mary Queen of Scots on Friday, December 14, 2018