• Anonymous (2011)

    As royal troops set fire to the Globe Theatre, Elizabethan-era playwright Ben Jonson (Sebastian Armesto) is tortured by Robert Cecil (Edward Hogg), who demands to know if Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford (Rhys Ifans), is the true author of the writings attributed to William Shakespeare (Rafe Spall). Flashbacks reveal Oxford's passionate affair with Queen Elizabeth I and how --...

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Anonymous
50
metacriticBased on 43 Critics
61
Based on 70 Users

Release Date: October 28th, 2011

DVD Release Date: February 7th, 2012

PG-13 |2 hr 10 min

Plot Summary

As royal troops set fire to the Globe Theatre, Elizabethan-era playwright Ben Jonson (Sebastian Armesto) is tortured by Robert Cecil (Edward Hogg), who demands to know if Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford (Rhys Ifans), is the true author of the writings attributed to William Shakespeare (Rafe Spall). Flashbacks reveal Oxford's passionate affair with Queen Elizabeth I and how -- in his younger days -- Oxford charmed her with plays like "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

Cast: Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave, Joely Richardson, David Thewlis, Xavier Samuel, Sebastian Armesto, Rafe Spall, Edward Hogg

Director: Roland Emmerich

Genres: Historical drama

Production Co: Centropolis Entertainment

Distributors: Sony Pictures Entertainment

Keywords: Rivalry, London, Suspenseful, Love

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Ratings & Reviews

  • 80
    Kirk HoneycuttThe Hollywood Reporter

    The film grabs at historical facts, mangles them into a plot worthy of a John le Carré spy novel and takes the viewer on a breathtaking ride through ye olde London. show more

  • 50
    Bob MondelloNPR

    Bottom line: Grant the film's big moments a kind of loopy majesty, and note that they're better acted than they deserve to be, not just by Ifans, Redgrave and Spall, but by David Thewlis and Edward Hogg as the villainous father-son team of William and Robert Cecil. It's a classy cast. show more

  • 75
    Stephanie ZacharekMovieline

    Ifans takes dorky, grandiose dialogue and turns it into something almost - well, Shakespearean. show more

See all critic reviews on metacritic.com

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Awards

Nominated Costume Design
Oscars Academy Awards (2011)