What's it about?
Set in the beginning of 17th century, it explores a theory that Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford, was the greatest playwright in Elizabethan England, but was forced to publish his works under the name of the actor William Shakespeare.
Why watch it?
For an unusual take on the subject (the intro scenes), great acting and plot twists.
Stars
Ratings
6,9 on IMDb
46% on Rotten Potatoes
Critics Reception
The film seemed to be universally beloved for its original take on Shakespeare's true identity, fast-paced action and directorial work, forgiving all of the historical inaccuracies and liberties taken when it comes to source material. The only criticism seems to be that of acting, which was not quite up to the standard - but only in comparison to how highly praised everything else is.
Historical Background
The film ignores several historical facts - including details of Elizabeth's love life and timeline of the actual historical figures compared to the plot - and is very loosely based on Shakespeare's work and biography.
Reviews
Anonymous – review, The Guardian
Anonymous: review, The Telegraph
Anonymous, Robert Ebert