Review of Anonymous (2011) by Eliav E — 12 Nov 2012

Historical/political thriller revolving around the theory that Shakespeare was a figurehead for a talented nobleman that couldn't reveal his identity. Shakespeare was the son of a glover and a man with a limited education, how come did he write so outstandingly? Where did he learn poetry and the classics? It is puzzling that such a fine writer didn't have a single book in his possession when he died. The movie takes this outlandish theory and spins it in a very smart way, creating a dark tale of betrayal, adultery, conspiracy ad incest at the court of Elizabeth I.

The film tells us the story of the "real" playwright Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford, one of the queen's lovers and a man of great imagination that just loves writing. However publishing wasn't something that aristocracy did at that time and he uses an arrogant and semi-literate actor, Shakespeare, to get his work across. The movie very finely depicts the dalliances and secrets of the court but also the world of theatres and taverns, almost like a slice of London life in the XVI century.

It is a complex plot where the plays themselves are delicately interwoven with the politics of the time becoming almost another character of the film. This feature together with the right locations and settings (with the help of computer generated images) makes this a novel watch and a really interesting thriller.