ANONYMOUS PRESENTS AN ALTERNATIVE HISTORY OF SHAKESPEARE
When Anonymous begins, a prologue actor says that the actor William Shakespeare only had a grammar school education and no original manuscripts of his works have ever been discovered with his signature. The actor then promises filmviewers an alternative history in which the supposed writer, Edward De Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford (played by Rhys Ifans), asks playright Ben Johnson (played by Sebastian Armesto) to edit his literary masterpieces for performance by William Shakespeare (played by Rafe Spall), an actor who then pretends to be the author. The reason for the deception is that the Earl, who actually was something of a poet, is trying to influence the Elizabethan court by satirizing enemies. De Vere’s goal is to pave the way for an alternative to the crowning of Scottish Catholic James I upon the inevitable death of Queen Elizabeth (played by Vanessa Redgrave). His principal rival, Puritan adviser William Cecil (played by David Thewlis) plots a takeover with his hunchback son, Robert (played by Edward Hogg), who schemes like Richard III. And indeed from time to time Shakespeare is arrested, only to be released by the Duke. Anonymous offers snippets from Shakespearian plays as well as raucous audience responses, suggesting how the plays could indeed have been satirical, similar to the Gilbert and Sullivan musicals. The complex story, directed by Roland Emmerich, is worthy of Shakespeare himself. Anonymous proceeds so quickly if preposterously that filmviewers may want to view the film a second time. (Filmviewers overheard leaving a West Los Angeles screening were so puzzled that they began a conversation that might well have lasted the rest of their evening.) MH