Lindsay: I’ll get right to the point and let you know that I never really watch period pieces. I suppose I don’t really have anything against them, I just don’t generally seek them out. Anonymous of course, is indeed a period piece, recounting the most likely fictional account of what happened at the time of Shakespeare’s life. The film presents the idea that the man we know as Shakespeare was not the same man that penned his great literary works. I don’t feel it’s necessary to detail the entire plot – other than that the story presented is adapted from an actual working theory on the veracity of Shakespeare’s work. The movie is obviously from the stand point that it was in fact someone else that created the famous writings.
For my film going experience, Anonymous took time to get there, but eventually had my full attention. It is a slow film at start, taking a bit to get going and switching in and out of time frames, but Anonymous picks up in it’s second half. There are a lot of over dramatic events taking place including forbidden romance, rebellion, backstabbing, secret-keeping and sex. Admittedly, the overall film felt long but the aforementioned aspects kept me awake in my seat. The movie is also well-acted for the most part, with lovely performances from Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave, Jamie Campbell Bower, Joely Richardson and David Thewlis. The only performances that fell flat with me were those of Rafe Spall (Shakespeare) and Sebastian Armesto (Ben Johnson). Mostly they are serviceable for the part they are given but never shine above the material. The film is also ascetically pleasing. Notably it contains effective landscape shots, signature to Emmerich, that really work. He is more restrained in his vision versus something like The Day After Tomorrow, and it results in a serene and epic mood for the film.
As for the truth in the story, I’m really in no position to comment. There are some heated debates on blogs and message boards all around the web where lit nerds are going back and forth on the subject. I read a lot of comments but I don’t think I understand enough of it to come to a conclusion on anything. I did enjoy reading up on the subject however and any film that entices me enough to go deeper that what I saw in the theater earns some bonus points in my book.
Anonymous offers the viewer a theatrical tale that we don’t see too often on the big screen. Seek it out if men wearing tights and talking Shakespeare is your thing or if you just want a little something different to chew on.
Anonymous is in theaters now.