MOVIE: Ronan reigns as Mary Queen of Scots

 Paul O’Rourke 

OUR very own Saoirse Ronan could be in line for another Oscar nod when nominees are announced shortly. 

And while everyone’s going gaga for Gaga (except Golden Globe voters), Ronan may be in with an outside chance of a sneaky win. 

The American born actress of Dublin parents has been nominated three times already, and in a year when ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ scoops a major award for best picture, and Gaga is snubbed for best actress, anything can surely happen. 

Her latest role sees Ronan play feisty Scottish royal wannabe Mary Stuart, who found herself Queen of France at 16 and widowed only two years later. When catholic Mary returns to her native land to claim the Scottish throne, she’s met with some resistance by her sister, protestant Elizabeth I, ruler of England, who also wants to lay claim over the same territory. The story is a fascinating one that many may not be aware of, and the acting is first rate from both Ronan and her co-star Margot Robbie, who plays pox ridden Elizabeth. 

Robbie has already received a number of nominations for her royal performance, as award voters love when so called glamourous actors ugly down for their roles (Charlize Theron in ‘Monster’/Nicole Kidman in ‘The Hours’). 

Oh the bravery of attractive stars making themselves look like ordinary people! We recommend this film for its acting and intriguing real life story, giving it a review score of 3.5 regal stars.

A very different movie out this week is ‘Beautiful Boy’ starring Steve Carell (the American Pat Short, i.e. he’s in everything) and Timothee Chalamet. 

Another true life story, this one tells the harrowing tale of a father trying to rescue his son from drug addiction. It’s a beautifully observed piece with great turns from Carell and especially Chalamet in a film that may not get as much attention as it deserves due to its out of favour subject matter: Men. 

Surely someone will be offended by a father and son on screen together for that long. We weren’t, and award it a review score of 4 fatherly stars.