ANONYMOUS | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"ANONYMOUS"
(2011) (Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave) (PG-13)

QUICK TAKE:: Drama: The future of the British monarchy lies in balance while an Earl anonymously continues to write plays and more, all for which an actor named William Shakespeare is taking credit.

PLOT:

It's the late 16th century and Edward, the Earl of Oxford (RHYS IFANS) is a frustrated writer. Married to the daughter of William Cecil (DAVID THEWLIS), who's the royal advisor to Queen Elizabeth (VANESSA REDGRAVE), and due to his position within the British Monarchy, along with the negative view of creative writing in general among the aristocracy, he decides the only way he's going to see his work on the stage is to give it to a playwright and allow that person lay claim to the work and any resultant fame and fortune that comes with it.

Accordingly, he hand-picks playwright Ben Jonson (SEBASTIAN ARMESTO) who toils along the likes of Christopher Marlowe (TRYSTAN GRAVELLE) and two-bit actor William Shakespeare (RAFE SPALL). Unfortunately for both Ben and Edward, the opportunistic actor takes advantage of the audience wanting to meet the writer at the successful conclusion of a play.

But such plays don't sit well with William's adult son, Robert Cecil (EDWARD HOGG), who grew up alongside young Edward (JAMIE CAMPBELL BOWER) when the latter came to live among the Tudor's following his father's death. That was especially true since Edward back then was the favorite of young Queen Elizabeth (JOELY RICHARDSON), and the two had a love affair.

Now, as Edward watches Shakespeare gain in fame from his plays, the Cecils try to sway the decision of who will succeed the aging Queen, all while the Earl of Southampton (XAVIER SAMUEL) and the Earl of Essex (SAM REID) have their own desires regarding that. As all of that plays out, the various secrets threaten to undermine everything that everyone has worked so hard to set up and maintain.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Unless they're fans of someone in the cast and/or period costume dramas about the British monarchy, it doesn't seem too likely.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13: For some violence and sexual content.

That's just the introduction of this review. The full review -- available to our members -- includes summaries of the sex, nudity, profanity, violence and more (15 categories) so you won't be surprised by what you might see or hear in this movie.

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