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The Dictator

A disappointing, often repulsive and mean-spirited mess of a film with seemingly only one real criterion on its agenda: to shock and offend.

The Woman In Black

Packed with atmosphere, this old-fashioned but deftly told ghost story delivers ample chills and thrills.

Careless Love

Sidestepping a more extreme take on prostitution, this is a quietly impressive portrait of a young woman caught in a tragic situation.

Empire Of Silver

Its backdrop is a rich and fascinating one, but the film is let down by a screenplay and direction that fails to register on a personal level.

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Anonymous (Film)

by Michael Simms | November 01, 2011 13:36 | Edited November 02, 2011 11:27

Though far-fetched, this celebration of storytelling is an exhilarating and visually lavish thrill ride.

The authorship debate surrounding the work of William Shakespeare is the basis for this provocative and passionate rewrite of the history books. Rhys Ifans plays Edward De Vere, the Earl of Oxford, who has a gift for writing, but fears the shame that publishing his ‘sinful tales' would bring on his family. Instead, the Earl hires a young actor named William Shakespeare (Rafe Spall) to pose as the author of his plays, as he watches anonymously from the stalls. Furthermore, the Earl's life is complicated by a steamy affair with Queen Elizabeth I in his younger years (told through a series of flashbacks), culminating in deceit, intrigue, violence and a messed up royal family melodrama.

 

Roland Emmerich (the man behind The Patriot and Independence Day) isn't a director that springs to mind when it comes to Elizabethan England - but he imbues the material with a rousing sense of excitement and fun, blending melodrama, comedy and stunning visuals with ease. The cast are uniformly terrific, with mother and daughter team Vanessa Redgrave and Joely Richardson particularly good in the shared role of Queen Elizabeth 1. Their incarnation of the ‘Virgin Queen' is spirited, sexual and eaten up with relish.

 

Visually, the film is a remarkable. Never before have Elizabethan times been recreated so vividly, with elaborate costumes, candle-lit interiors, and swooping wide shots over the sprawling streets of sixteenth century London offering a unique and unforgettable perspective of the era. The digital renderings of the Globe Theatre and the Tower of London are especially fine.

 

The unnecessary chopping between time periods is at times irritating, and it would be unwise to overthink some of the major plot points - but overall, John Orfloff's screenplay hits the right dramatic beats at a blistering pace. Puritans will scoff at the soap opera-esque twists and turns - but with its tongue firmly placed in cheek, Anonymous is an exciting, gripping and passionate ode to the power of words and storytelling.