Anonymous - Movie Review

Anonymous, an alternative history of William Shakespeare, is reviewed by Christy Lemire (AP critic and host of Ebert Priesents at the Movies, check your local PBS listings) and Ben Mankiewicz (host of Turner Classic Movies).

The theory that it was in fact Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford, who penned Shakespeare's plays. Set against the backdrop of the succession of Queen Elizabeth I and the Essex rebellion against her.

[christopherknox]

Although I do not believe in the Oxfordian Theory at all, I am mesmerized by how fantastic this film is in every way. I watch it frequently, fully aware that the theory it is built upon is absurd. It is a cinema masterclass from a director I had previously thought incapable of making a good movie at all.

[danielmcdermott]

Talentless director decides to make serious film which slanders a genius.

[louisaparker]

In 2023, I finally got around to watching this movie. Nice that the old What the Flick review is still available.

[rasnac]

Roland Emmerich making a Shakespeare movie! Now, that's a scary premise...

[setarehgharehbaghnejad]

the theory is a serious accusation and based on speculations. nevertheless the movie itself is well-made and performances along with all technical details of cinema are made professionally.

[ArtemisMS]

Does the film address the sonnets and works like Venus and Adonis?

[xteric]

you are not supposed to know who is who in the movie..that why it's called anoymous

[MrDragon]

I'm amused by the irony that a director - whose never made a credible film with a proper story and a bit of a hack - makes a film claiming other people who didn't have anywhere near the talent of Shakespeare were in fact 'Shakespeare'. Methinks the film probably tells us more about Roland Emmerich than anything else.

[MegaGiants]

@waste0fspais Shakespeare did not grow up dirt poor either he had a formal education.

[billvandergriff]

This movie was a nine. Though I had to watch it ten times before I got it. About same amount of times I read Romeo and Juliette before I got it. Brilliant movie

[NoCommentChick]

Everybody knows Shakespeare was really Guy Fawkes, duh!

[CraigMetalHead]

@waste0fspais Well, we know things such as where he was born, who his father was, who his wife was, his three children and whend he died, from these things alone we know the man existed. We know there was a free school quarter of a mile from his home, given that English law dictated curriculum he would be taught him how to read and write as well as Latin and Classic Literature and Studies.

[arad]

Shakespeare's plays are too entertaining and vulgar to be written by a nobleman. They were clearly the product of someone who came "from the people" (like almost all other great works of art).

[iowacub]

So tempted to see this just because of the Radiohead...

[daisymoses]

Appreciate this ! Well done on the review. Although I agree with the complaints, I still found the film very watchable almost singlehandedly thanks to Rhys Ifans playing Edward DeVere (Earl Oxford). Personally, I just allowed my confusion over the film's personages to just wash over me. (Maybe people who know Shakespearean Literature better than I wouldnt keep mixing up the Earls of Essex Southampton and Oxford with each other, and with their different age portrayals from flashback/flashforward?)

[Exdus]

I wwas looking in fullscreen and I came here to ask if there was something going on between them. Then I see im not the only one....

[CraigMetalHead]

@waste0fspais There are many gaps in his history but simple logic shows he didnt have noteworthy parents so why would there be documentation of his life BEFORE he himself did something worthy of it?

He was known of once he began acting and writing, so its not as though he was one of these "Before his time" artists... people knew who he was WHEN he was.

[GigaBoost]

@Hamhark98 So? Thats never stopped people before.

[amirdude]

@jeddawie Why is it disrespectful to Christy?

[MpowerdAPE]

roland emmerit is a walking enema of obvious. put him in the list with michael bay.