The Film
Another film about William Shakespeare and yet another film that tells the life of Queen Elizabeth I - haven't we done this before? But this time Anonymous, which questions the authorship of the Bard of Avon is from Roland Emmerich, someone normally associated with big budget disaster films and invading aliens than a story of conspiracies and political intrigue. Whether because of his knack for creating the unbelievable - or more likely in spite of it - director Emmerich delivers a story that would be somewhat worthy of a Shakespearian play.
The twist here is that struggling actor William Shakespeare (Rafe Spall) didn't pen the plays, but rather that these are the works of court favorite Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford (Rhys Ifans), whose Puritan spouse and her scheming father and brother objected to any form of art for being the tools of the devil. As Oxford's in-laws weren't just the usual annoying type, but were father/son advisors to her majesty, the writer instead used someone else as a front man. Farfetched this may sound, this theory is not unique to the film, but is one that holds some credibility and is known in scholarly circles as the "Oxfordian" theory of authorship. Regardless of whether the viewer buys into the theory, the film is another fascinating costume drama that once again brings the Elizabethan court to life, complete with intrigue, elaborate plots and plenty of strong performances. And to paraphrase a common misquote to Shakespeare (it is actually Sir Walter Scott's line) "Oh what a tangled web indeed."
Everyone is a critic and for a different take on Anonymous (which ain't so anonymous) check out Karen Dahlstorm's review of the film
The Picture
All the world's a stage, and even if the mere idea that Shakespeare never put pen to paper dissuades you, the film is worth viewing just for the recreation of Elizabethan London, which comes to life in a glorious 2.35:1 1080p Full HD presentation. It was no love's labour's lost for the film's creators as a bonus feature explains, with much of the backgrounds and sets created virtually. Truth be told it was actually hard to tell where the CGI ended and real sets began. From the opening shot - which interestingly enough begins in New York City and offers a introduction at a Broadway theater (no doubt a neat twist on the normal play-within-play presentation of some of the Bard's works, notably Henry V) - to the interior sequences at Royal Palaces, aglow with natural light, this one is a delight to view. And unlike many earlier films set in the same era, which show an almost too upbeat view of court, this one pops to life with look of mud and dirt to the bright colors of the regal dress and even to the rotting teeth of the aged "Virgin Queen."
The Sound
If music be the food of love, play on. While much of the film was created on sets with green screens and computers with visuals that pack a powerful punch, the sound is scarcely left behind. Emmerich is no stranger to bombastic films with massive explosions and over-the-top sound. Anonymous offers a few such moments, namely a small riot where the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack reminds you of this fact, but most of the time it is the subtle nature of the sound that really impresses the viewer. The center channel audio is crisp and clear delivering the main dialog while the discrete channels provide that ambient sound that makes for an immersive experience. This is notable in the scenes in court with hushed whispers, overlapping conversations in the theater and with natural sounds of the Elizabethan city. After all, is whispering nothing?
The Extras
It may be more matter with less art, but there are a few bonus features that really stand out nicely in this package, beginning with extended and deleted scenes - but really it is the three featurettes that are truly worth a look. First up "More Than Special Effects" offers a 13-minute look at the film's digital recreation of the Tower of London and Elizabethan theaters. It illustrates how the "modular" sets were used to make this fairly small budget film seem larger than life. Meanwhile, the "Who is the Real William Shakespeare?" featurette is a 10 minute history lesson about the theories of whether this story has any basis in fact. It doesn't answer any serious questions, but might have some viewers heading online or to their local library to read more. Finally, the "Speak the Speech" provides a look at the casting, which is interesting just for how it came to be that mother/daughter Vanessa Redgrave and Joely Richardson landed the parts of the older/younger versions of Queen Elizabeth I.
Final Thoughts
Serious fans of Shakespeare might take offense at the very notion that the Bard may have been handed his plays. Likewise those who have seen the numerous movies from Elizabeth to Shakespeare in Love might find it hard to give this one a chance. But truth be told the fact that the guy behind 2012 decided not to make another over-the-top disaster film for a change is enough to get this reviewer excited. To sleep, perchance to dream...
Product Details
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