Review of Anonymous (2011) by Troy D — 13 Apr 2012

Not as dumb and obsessed with big explosions as Roland Emmerich's movies usually are (this is, after all, the director who made Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow, and 2012).

The premise of Anonymous: William Shakespeare was just a front man, all his works were written by a noble man.

It's costume drama (with lots of special effects used to create a London as it would have looked in 1600, rather than explosions). It has some thespy British actors in it. The dialogue isn't terrible and the movie takes itself quite seriously. Surprisingly, it more or less works - court intrigue, Royal succession, self-realisation and fulfilment - the themes are handled with more gravitas than the title, premise and director might lead you to expect.

Don't expect a thriller, or a conspiracy theory that will build up tension like JFK or the Da Vinci Code. Don't expect to come out of the cinema convinced that you've been duped for all those years. Expect a decent costume drama, and your expectations will be met.