Anonymous (2011, Roland Emmerich)

16th Century England: The story of Edward De Vere who appeared to be the real author of Shakespeare’s works. The 17th Earl of Oxford (Rhys Ifans) enjoys writing since his youth but was compelled to hide because of his status. Therefore, when playwright Ben Johnson (Sebastian Armesto) was imprisoned, Edward seized the opportunity to get his plays staged under someone else’s name. But things did not go as planned.

THE MAN BEHIND SHAKESPEARE

What if Will was not the man we thought he was? Many theories link the works attributed to him with other playwrights or noblemen like Edward de Vere, the main character. In Anonymous, William "shake spear" (as Edward pronounced it once) is nothing but an actor who is illiterate, arrogant, drunk and maybe filthy. Willy was a fraud. Many certainly didn’t and won’t like it but be that as it may, neither the Shakespeare authorship issue nor the historical accurary in the film is not to be taken seriously. The story stands, the movie is entertaining, filled with emotions and suspense and that is all that matters. In a way, Anonymous revives the feeling of being at an english theater watching the Royal Shakespeare Company perform. Roland Emmerich is up to the mark considering him being far away from what he usually does (Universal Soldier, 2012, The Day after Tomorrow, etc.). Rhys Ifans is more than convincing as Edward de Vere. I believe this is his greatest performance to date.

Rhys Ifans (Edward de Vere) and Xavier Samuel (Earl of Southampton)

Memorable quote

Narrator: "Soul of the age, the applause, delight, the wonder of our stage, our Shakespeare, rise "our" Shakespeare…". The most performed playwright of all time: the author of 37 plays, 154 sonnets and several narrative poems collectively known as the expression of humanity and English language. And yet…and yet, not a single manuscript of any kind has ever been found written in Shakespeare’s own hand in 400 years, not one document…