What if William Shakespeare didn’t write Romeo and Juliet? What if he was nothing more than an arrogant actor who hung out with the likes of writers Christopher Marlowe and Ben Jonson, and took credit for every sonnet and play that he supposedly wrote?
In German director Roland Emmerich’s “Anonymous”, he, along with writer John Orloff, ask us these questions.
As ridiculous as this theory sounds both Emmerich and Orloff, pull it off with ease and make us believe in the possibility this could actually be true.
The writing is flawless, and given the many twists and turns that we endure, it all works and makes complete sense. It doesn’t hurt that the film is impeccably cast as well.
Derek Jacobi, rumored to believe in this theory, bookends the film. We see an aerial shot of New York City as the film opens. The camera pans down through the streets and buildings to a taxicab that pulls up to a Broadway theatre. Jacobi steps out, and walks into the theatre, apparently late for a performance, and takes the stage.
The curtain literally opens as he takes his place and he addresses the audience, explaining the theory, and as actors get ready for their upcoming entrances. Before we know it the stage is covered in rain and we are no longer looking at a stage, but instead we now see the muddied alleys of London in the 1500’s.
We are introduced to Edward, the Earl of Oxford (Rhys Ifans), who is taking in a Ben Jonson (Sebastian Armesto) play. After Jonson is arrested for his work and then released, Edward makes a deal with Jonson. If he agrees to take some of the plays he has been writing and have them produced at the local theatre Edward will pay him a handsome fee, but he is never to divulge who actually wrote the plays. Jonson begrudgingly accepts but doesn’t feel comfortable signing his name to the works due to the difference in their writing styles. This works for a while until the plays starts packing people in and before long the chant “Author, Author” erupts throughout the theatre.
William Shakespeare (Rafe Spall), played as an arrogant, drunken, loud-mouthed actor, agrees to take the task off of Jonson’s shoulders, but Jonson says no. That is until the chanting begins and Shakespeare walks out, script in hand, and takes ownership of the plays.
That is just the beginning of the many liberties both Emmerich and Orloff take, but again, we willingly follow them because it’s that good. (To tell you all of them here would spoil the fun, and would take too long.)
The film is shot beautifully, edited skillfully and acted with eloquence; Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Elizabeth, Edward Hogg as Robert Cecil, David Thewlis as William Cecil, and Joely Richardson as Young Queen Elizabeth all shine in their scenes making this film Oscar worthy to be sure.
There isn’t a week link in the rest of the cast. All engagingly play their roles and give us just enough taste of the period without going too far. The acting is as sumptuous as the direction, costumes and cinematography.
Anonymous is filmed very much like the Milos Forman Oscar winning film Amadeus. The period costumes by Lisy Christi, and the makeup along with the fantastic cast and direction make this a film not to be missed.
Sure, it may seem implausible to think that William Shakespeare didn’t write all of those amazing plays and sonnets, but what if he didn’t?
“Anonymous” may not convince you that he didn’t, but it will definitely make you think about it.