" Anonymous "

Year : 2011
Verdict: 9/10
Directed by: Roland Emmerich 

 


Actors: 
Rhys Ifans - Earl of Oxford
Vanessa Redgrave- Queen Elizabeth I
David Thewlis- William Cecil
  




The curtain's drawn and the stage is set, 
as the crowd filled the theatre and patiently waits for the play.  

 

This is your run of the mill Elizabethan inspired era, but to me, 
what makes this interesting is its story and the new twist of «What if ». 

 

 

 

 

 

 


I wasn't drawn to it at first, but got intrigued by the title and got more curious 
when it was featured in Dias del cine episode. 
I'm also not a fan of V. Grave, so I thought this must be another inane film about Elizabeth. 
But I was wrong. 
Of course, if you're the type who starts yawning at the sight of elaborate dresses, 
huge castles, kings and queens, the speeches of 'thou, thy and my Lord ', 
then, this isn't your cup of tea, skip it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 This isn't your usual Shakespeare story or even the dame Queen's ,
In it, Viewers were given a whole new possibility, 

What if, W. Shakespeare is just a fictional character, used as a pen name 
from a writer who comes from an influential background, but 
couldn't share his talent because, plays and theatres during that time 
were considered blasphemous. 

 


What if, Queen Elizabeth I have more (than she could count) affairs,
that at one point, engaging into having an incest relationship? 

 



What if, someone is merely pretending to be someone who's not? 









 

 


What if, all the scandals, political conspiracy, the illicit affairs, 
the rise and fall during that period. 
Maybe, there's still a dark secret that needs to be told. 

 

 

 

In the end though, 
it is still about power, revenge, betrayal and love. 
« How words will prevail greater than swords »

I think, Rhys Ifans, delivered this role, the best i've seen so far. 
He was believable and intense.
Although, I still can't help picturing him in his semi exposed butt ( excuse the word). 
If you've seen Notting hill, then you might be familiar with Hugh Grant's room mate then, called Spike, who is awfully hilarious. 
This role was  a definite 360 turn for him. 

Also, the cruel Cecil, played by David Thewlis. 
His crookedly cunning role, will made you hate him, 
but at the same time, will also feel sorry for him. 

" The girl with the dragon tattoo "

Year: 2009
Verdict: 9/10
Directed by: Niels Arden Oplev
Suede Title: Män som hatar kvinnor (original title)



I had a copy of this film awhile back already but couldn't find any free time,
this weekend I finally did.

Based on the novel by Stieg Larsson, which is divided into 3 books,
the Swedish version was the first to hit cinema and the author's name instantly
became famous. Unfortunately for the author, he died before he could share his insights to his readers.

Although I haven't watched the Hollywood remake yet played by Daniel Craig,
I think the original one was executed well with a powerful cast and a believable story.




It is a fictional story of a stubborn but determined journalist named Mikael Blomkvist, who works for the newspaper called Millennium.



He became controversial after his failed attempt to exposed a prominent financial buss. man named Wennerstrom.



He was sentenced to jail for slander, but before his arrest, received a call from a lawyer representing a prominent family named Sir Henri Vanger to investigate the disappearance of his niece, Harriet Vangers some 40 years ago.









Sir Henri believes that her disappearance has something to with murder and Mikael is his only hope, as everyone even the police dept. has given up.



With this major task ahead, one girl was as curious to find out this unsolved mystery.
That girl is the punk, young and rebellious Lisbeth Salander.



Tormented by the abused of her father during the childhood and has been and to psychiatric hospitals for sometime.
She relies on a guardian, who she meets from a weekly basis,( i think), to report about her whereabouts and daily life.









She was recently haunted by his new substitute guardian, who has a sadistic tendency, a pervert who sexually and physically abused her.
But Lisbeth is a strong headed girl and a prolific hacker, she doesn't give up easily.



Meanwhile, as she digs deeper into Mikael Blomkvist's case.
she inserts herself into the investigation, thereby, helping the journalist find the truth behind its mystery and Harriet's allegedly number codes written in her journal.





It is a riveting tale of suspense and murder, and a surprising tale of love as well.
A well thought film,
the setting shows us the backdrop of Sweden's dark and peaceful suburb.







It is a film not to be missed, an ending one couldn't imagine.
It gets you inside the mind of a sick serial Nazi rapist killer.







A good ending and an unforgettable twist.

" Le Grand Alibi "

Verdict: 8/10
Year: 2008
Directed by: Pascal Bonitzer

English version: The Grand Alibi

Based from the novel: Agatha Christie's The Hollow- "Le Vallon"




Set in the countryside, somewhere off Paris was the usual weekend get together
held by the Pages folks.
They all knew each other but not too well, as in every reunion, you get the odds and ends of each person, the awkward and aloof,
the others who may seem out of place, the meek but has deep angst inside him,
the bossy, the talker.






It looks anything but ordinary except for Dr. Collier, a womanizer with a disturbing past, suddenly murdered beside the pool on a quiet afternoon, uttering his final words Debra ( wife's name ), the main suspect as she was holding the smoking gun.
and so begins the mysterious thriller of whodunit.






It was what the french would say comme ci, comme ca, well plotted scenarios
and a great cast.
I watched this film not knowing it was an Agatha Christie inspired novel.
It was when the murder happened and the suspects started lining up that made me realized this seemed all too familiar, like reading it out from the book
and you never miss out on the author's attention to detail if you're a fan. ^-^
It would've been perfect except the famous Hercule Poirot detective wasn't in the picture, tsk, tsk and although, some of the characters and plots have been altered but the gist is still there and with a plausible ending.