Anonymous

Surprising, that Roland Emmrich can actually pull of a beautiful looking film, with great acting, and nothing blowing up. Also there is no ridiculous running from temperature scene, or a Macintosh computer sending a virus to alien computer system. Although the idea is far fetched here too, I forget that halfway through the story. The film stars the wonderful Rhys Ifans, the lovely Vanessa Redgrave, Joely Richardson, and David Thewlis. 

The film is about Edward the Earle of Oxford trying to use plays to destroy the Cecils. However a person like Edward does not write plays he needs someone else's name to be on the scripts. So William Shakespeare eventually becomes the play-write. Who is also an illiterate actor. The film features betrayal, incest, violence, more like a Greek tragedy and less like a Shakespeare play. 

Now I have enjoyed only one Emmrich film, which was The Patriot. Like that film it has good acting and looked wonderful. Also like that film it completely rapes history. However, you will completely get rapped up in the melodrama. 

The film did great job to recreate London in the early 1600s. The costume and sets are great to look at. Possible academy award nominations for best art-direction and costume design. The actors are all great, there is no weak link here. Rhys Ifans I have always been a fan of, and really shines here. So above all I reccomend this film even with its flaws. 

rating - 79%