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IMDbPro

Anonymous

  • 20112011
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 2h 10m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
41K
YOUR RATING
Anonymous (2011)
Director Roland Emmerich gives 10 reasons why he believes Shakespeare was a fraud.
Play trailer7:58
7 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaThriller
The theory that it was in fact Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford, who penned Shakespeare's plays. Set against the backdrop of the succession of Queen Elizabeth I and the Essex rebellion against... Read allThe theory that it was in fact Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford, who penned Shakespeare's plays. Set against the backdrop of the succession of Queen Elizabeth I and the Essex rebellion against her.The theory that it was in fact Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford, who penned Shakespeare's plays. Set against the backdrop of the succession of Queen Elizabeth I and the Essex rebellion against her.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
41K
YOUR RATING
    • Roland Emmerich
    • John Orloff
  • Stars
    • Rhys Ifans
    • Vanessa Redgrave
    • David Thewlis
    • Roland Emmerich
    • John Orloff
  • Stars
    • Rhys Ifans
    • Vanessa Redgrave
    • David Thewlis
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 159User reviews
    • 288Critic reviews
    • 50Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar

    Videos7

    10 Reasons Why Shakespeare Is a Fraud
    Trailer 7:58
    Watch 10 Reasons Why Shakespeare Is a Fraud
    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:01
    Watch Trailer #1
    "Revolt"
    Clip 0:42
    Watch "Revolt"
    "My Gift Is a Play"
    Clip 1:13
    Watch "My Gift Is a Play"
    "I'm Perfect for the Role"
    Clip 1:01
    Watch "I'm Perfect for the Role"
    "Find My Salvation"
    Clip 0:58
    Watch "Find My Salvation"
    "All Art Is Political"
    Clip 1:16
    Watch "All Art Is Political"

    Photos194

    Rhys Ifans in Anonymous (2011)
    Rafe Spall in Anonymous (2011)
    Jamie Campbell Bower in Anonymous (2011)
    Rhys Ifans in Anonymous (2011)
    Vanessa Redgrave in Anonymous (2011)
    Rhys Ifans in Anonymous (2011)
    Joely Richardson in Anonymous (2011)
    Roland Emmerich in Anonymous (2011)
    Roland Emmerich and Rafe Spall in Anonymous (2011)
    Joely Richardson and Jamie Campbell Bower in Anonymous (2011)
    Rafe Spall in Anonymous (2011)
    Rhys Ifans, Xavier Samuel, and Sam Reid in Anonymous (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Rhys Ifans
    Rhys Ifans
    • Earl of Oxford
    Vanessa Redgrave
    Vanessa Redgrave
    • Queen Elizabeth I
    David Thewlis
    David Thewlis
    • William Cecil
    Sebastian Armesto
    Sebastian Armesto
    • Ben Jonson
    Rafe Spall
    Rafe Spall
    • William Shakespeare
    Edward Hogg
    Edward Hogg
    • Robert Cecil
    Xavier Samuel
    Xavier Samuel
    • Earl of Southampton
    Sam Reid
    Sam Reid
    • Earl of Essex
    • (as Sebastian Reid)
    Jamie Campbell Bower
    Jamie Campbell Bower
    • Young Earl of Oxford
    Joely Richardson
    Joely Richardson
    • Young Queen Elizabeth I
    Paolo De Vita
    • Francesco
    Trystan Gravelle
    Trystan Gravelle
    • Christopher Marlowe
    Robert Emms
    Robert Emms
    • Thomas Dekker
    Tony Way
    Tony Way
    • Thomas Nashe
    Julian Bleach
    Julian Bleach
    • Captain Richard Pole
    Derek Jacobi
    Derek Jacobi
    • Prologue
    Alex Hassell
    Alex Hassell
    • Spencer
    James Garnon
    • Heminge
      • Roland Emmerich
      • John Orloff
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Vanessa Redgrave and Joely Richardson play the older and younger versions of Queen Elizabeth, respectively. In real life, they are mother and daughter.
    • Goofs
      The playwrights in the movie are all astonished that Romeo and Juliet is written in verse, specifically iambic pentameter. In fact, English drama had been written in verse for hundreds of years, and mostly in iambic pentameter for about the previous 25 years. Prose drama, not poetry, was the innovation.
    • Quotes

      Anne De Vere: You, your friends, your blasphemous theater have brought nothing but ruin and dishonor to this family.

      Ben Jonson: Ruin? Dishonor? My lady, you, your family, even I, even Queen Elizabeth herself will be remembered solely because we had the honor to live whilst your husband put ink to paper.

    • Crazy credits
      Apart from the production companies, the only opening credit is the movie's title, displayed on the marquee of the prologue's theater.
    • Connections
      Featured in Maltin on Movies: The Rum Diary (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Night of the Long Knives
      Written by Byrd & David Hirschfelder (as Hirschfelder)

      Performed by David Hirschfelder

      Courtesy of The Decca Music Group

      Under licence from Universal Music Operations Ltd.

    User reviews159

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Hysteria His Story or To Thine Own Self Be False
    This film is not recommended.

    With apologies to Shakespeare, the true talent, thus, my feeble attempt at (mostly) iambic pentameter:

    Anonymous, a film of cheese and ham, Questions the legend of Shakespeare, William, Whose work it claims the sole property of, Edward DeVere's, Earl, and a class above, Theory and conjecture, Will's name to malign, A film not noble, literate, or refined, Its tale quite shallow, protesting too much, Spouting nonsense, drivel, dreck, and such.

    A production with much to admire, Before all logic begins to expire, Sensationally, a work of fiction, Unconvincing in its own conviction, Visual spectacle, or farce, perhaps, Intelligence and wit well nigh elapse, Although I may seem to kvetch and complain, This film ultimately doth entertain.

    The thespians display their skills and crafts, While unintentionally providing laughs, Over-emoting as they misbehave, The likes of Jacobi and Ladies Redgrave, Rhys Ifans well plays lover and writer, Were only Orloff's script a bit tighter, Rafe Spall's the bard as wretched sot, an eyeful, Poor Will should sue for slander and libel.

    Disaster, thine mainstay of Emmerich, Part director, part showman, his prime niche, For depth and clarity, he will not delve, Note: Independence Day and 2012, Whilst not the disaster we've come to expect, The film has little to awe or respect, It plays fast with the facts, and offers nil, Except sets, that in some measure, fulfill.

    With all its pomp and expensive wrappings, Lavish costumes doth not disguise its trappings, But thy foul temper and malaise spills forth, Yielding a vile film of lesser worth, A ill-conceived venture, shrill, and unkind, Outlandishly ornate and out of its mind, A stylish film, yet so misbegotten, One hopes Anonymous is soon well forgotten.

    GRADE: C

    NOTE: Visit my movie blog for more reviews: www.dearmoviegoer.com
    helpful•36
    39
    • jadepietro
    • Nov 1, 2011

    FAQ3

    • Is "Anonymous" based on a book?
    • Who is Edward's biological father?
    • Why was the falcon's eyes covered?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 28, 2011 (United Kingdom)
      • United Kingdom
      • Germany
      • United States
      • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
      • English
      • French
      • Italian
      • Greek, Ancient (to 1453)
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Studio Babelsberg, Potsdam, Brandenburg, Germany
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Relativity Media
      • Centropolis Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 2 hours 10 minutes
      • Color
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
      • Datasat

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    Anonymous (2011)
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