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Anonymous

Release Date 26 Oct 2011 TBA

  • User rating
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
  • Critic rating
  • Currently 1/5 Stars.

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Certificate: NR

Genre:

"Anonymous" speculates on an issue that has for centuries intrigued academics and brilliant minds ranging from Mark Twain and Charles Dickens to Henry James and Sigmund Freud, namely: who was the author of the plays credited to William Shakespeare? Experts have debated, books have been written, and scholars have devoted their lives to protecting or debunking theories surrounding the authorship of the most renowned works in English literature. Anonymous poses one possible answer, focusing on a time when cloak-and-dagger political intrigue, illicit romances in the Royal Court, and the schemes of greedy nobles hungry for the power of the throne were exposed in the most unlikely of places: the London stage.

Cast:
Xavier Samuel | Rhys Ifans | Jamie Campbell Bower | Vanessa Redgrave | David Thewlis | Joely Richardson | Rafe Spall | Derek Jacobi | Tom Wlaschiha | Edward Hogg

Writers:
John Orloff

Producers:

Directors:
Roland Emmerich

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  • Critic rating
  • Currently 1/5 Stars.

Movies.ie Critic Review

Pitching the notion that the wily Shakespeare (Spall) was merely a front man for Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford (Ifans), after a present day speech from an actor telling a theatre audience just that, we jump to Elizabethan London as playwright Ben Jonson is called upon to be the public face for the Earl’s covert authorship. Jonson’s not interested, but he knows a man who is – a young out of work actor by the name of Billy Shakespeare. Yowsa.

THE VERDICT: With the films release cut to just 250 screens (in the claim of building word of mouth), this hilariously bad historically-bonkers costume drama from the mind of Roland Emmerich (who’s basically M. Night Shyamalan without the twists) seems destined for a fate worst than death – an early trip to DVD. It’s a film that was laughed off the screen at Cannes (where it caused a row during a public debate), and it was laughed off the screen at the Dublin press screening too. RATING: 1/5

Review by Paul Byrne 

  • Avg User rating
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.

User Reviews

    • Currently 4/5 Stars.

    filmbuff2011

    Roland Emmerich may not be the most obvious choice for dealing with the authorship question hanging over William Shakespeare. However, this intriguing film has been fermenting in his mind for some time and it shows. I have to say that I strongly disagree with Paul Byrne's review above. Treat it for what it's worth - a Tudors-style conspiracy drama that should be regarded as fantasy (like From Hell) and I think you will quite enjoy it. Whether the whole story is true or not doesn't really matter - whether it's a rollickingly good piece of entertainment is. On that count, it succeeds. Rhys Ifans also gives a surprisingly understated performance as the possible true author (?), given that he often plays larger-than-life characters. A film for the curious-minded and adventurous...

    • Currently 3/5 Stars.

    mart

    An intriguing look at Tudor England and the Bard who caught the spirit of the times and the heights and depths of the human adventure.

    • Currently 3/5 Stars.

    Dezo

    A solid enough film. It starts off a little slowly & takes a little while to get used to the jumping back & forth but then the film settles down & it plays out well. Vanessa Redgrave is particularly very good as is Rhys Ifans & David Thewlis. The plotline is deliberately made out to be very Shakespearian despite the film being not too kind to the man himself. Worth a watch.

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