Sunday, April 15, 2012

Much Ado About Everything

Finally had the opportunity to see Anonymous this week. Visually stunning, wonderful cast and very intriguing theory/storyline about Shakespeare's work.


23 comments:

  1. I want to see this and your great pictures make me want too even more.

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    1. Glad to enable! It never came to theaters in my area and I regret not having seen it on the large screen. It does jump around in time a bit and I found that a bit confusing at first. But, overall, an incredible visual feast.

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  2. The settings and costumes look superb. I'd like to see this film, the premise about the Earl of Oxford is intriguing!

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    1. I also found the premise intriguing and plausible. Rhys Ifans is fantastic in this. Costumes and interiors are exquisite.

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  3. Oooooooooh. This looks intriguing. Can't wait for the DVD I just ordered off A.com to get here. Anything worth watching once is worth watching again (and again) for details. . . .

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    1. I so agree - a good stash of must see (again and again) is always a good thing. This one has lots of details and as I'd mentioned above, goes back and forth in history, so it is easy to get distracted by a pretty costume or drape!

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  4. P.S., was looking up May Day, saw this, thought of you!
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:John_Collier_Queen_Guinevre%27s_Maying.jpg

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  5. It's important to realise that this story is fiction.

    The story is based around some real facts, but very little of the story as presented is actually true.

    Anonymous is very much like the film 'Shakespeare in Love'. That was based around some historical facts. But events didn't really happen like that, and many of the events in that film never happened at all. 'Shakespeare in Love' was excellent entertainment, but 70% of it was invented, although many people came away from the film believing that it was all true.

    Both films are also very much like Shakepeare's plays themselves. His history plays give an impression of relating history, but the stories are not faithful to the events that actually happened. Shakepeare simply used some historical events about which to write some exciting plays which people would find entertaining.

    Joely Richardson who plays Queen Elizabeth talks on this clip:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f2MMMj1tvE

    She says 'Of course this will annoy history teachers. But we are not making a documentary. It is a film. It is a story. And I do believe it is a story that Shakespeare himself would like. He'd think isn't it funny'.

    More serious reviews:
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/anonymous-film-shakespeare_n_1034619.html
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/nov/04/anonymous-shakespeare-film-roland-emmerich
    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-blog/8873926/Anonymous-Geeks-snobs-and-a-spurious-controversy.html

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    1. Robert - I didn't take it as anything other than what it was - a beautifully told story. Thanks for all the review links. It seemed to have a short-lived appearance at theaters here in the US.

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  6. To tell the truth, I didn't expect much from this film, but I was intrigued by the premise because in college I had read the theories that Shakespeare's plays were really written by a nobleman (or a noblewoman?). Though this turned out to not be a film making a serious case for this (but only apparently so), I was impressed by not only the visuals but the story and the acting as well. It reminded me of Quills in its depiction of writers, the urge to write, and the toll that censorship takes on the writer (as well as the rest of society). And it wasn't lost on me that it was, indeed, like a Shakespeare play itself. Also, I think the title of the film suggests the idea that ultimately it doesn't matter who really wrote the plays. We should be thankful they survived at all, that we may read them today. Brilliant film, and one that will definitely be added to my DVD collection soon. Thanks for posting something about this, no one else I follow has mentioned it, and I was starting to wonder if I was alone in this. ;)

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    1. Christopher - you have summarized this much more eloquently than I did - and I thank you. All good stories depend on a seed of truth in the deception to lure you in, I believe. From the beginning, we, as the viewing audience are part of the play as the "curtain" opens and that is our cue that this is indeed fiction - not historical fact - and that we are witnessing a play of "what if" or "could have been". There is a lot to take in, so I had to really pay attention. Then again, the visuals and acting were so wonderful, I did so willingly.

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  7. I love when a period movie really takes pride in the costumes. Looks intreaking :)

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  8. Oooh, this is a must-see. I'm going to Red Box tomorrow night to get this!

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    1. Can't wait to compare notes with you. I found it fascinating!

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  9. I saw it this week too...Excellent Excellent movie...:)

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  10. it's so nice to discover your blog! @nne

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  11. I loved it! Had to watch it several times as the setting was spellbinding!

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  12. I did the very same thing - too many lovely details to linger on. So glad you enjoyed it.

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