Anonymous

Director Roland Emmerich tackles an element of academic controversy as he explores the question of whether Shakespeare actually wrote the plays attributed to him in Emmerich’s newest film Anonymous.  Intermixed within the fact checking is a fluid run of melodrama, political intrigue, forced marriage, incest, and war.  If it sounds like a lot, rest assured—it is.

In the film, Sebastian Armesto portrays playwright Ben Johnson, who is said to have been approached by Edward de Vere (Rhys Ifans) about presenting the plays as his own.  Johnson refuses to undercut his own work, instead working out a deal that has an illiterate actor by the name of William Shakespeare showcase the works.  But things never go according to plan—even in 16th century.

While the film is full of entertaining qualities, it doesn't do much in relation to the academic question that it centers around.  I am not a scholar on the subject, but I will say that many plot points appeared to be created to advance the story or increase the intensity of the film.  It doesn't make Anonymous a bad film, but it will quickly warn off those who are looking for some answers.

With all that being said, Anonymous is an exciting experience that meshes several genres into one ultimate story, captured with visually striking cinematography.  The Blu-Ray disc features some interesting deleted and extended scenes and a writer/director audio commentary of the film.  The end result is something worth checking out, even if you aren't too familiar with the debate about Shakespeare’s authenticity.