A Waste of Shame

This 2005 British TV movie attempts to solve the legendary mysteries surrounding Shakespeare's sonnets—specifically, the identities of the “Dark Lady” and the “Fair Youth” that inspired the works. As portrayed here, Shakespeare (Rupert Graves) is less interested in his shrewish wife, Anne Hathaway (Anna Chancellor), at Stratford-upon-Avon and more focused on the rougher elements of London. The poet's obsession with prostitutes is fulfilled by the exotic beauty of French-born Lucie (Indira Varma), the alleged mystery woman; however, this Shakespeare also has a bisexual streak that keeps him infatuated with the young William Herbert, the Earl of Pembroke (Tom Sturridge). As directed by John McKay, the film devolves into a 17th-century soap opera with elements of farce suggesting that the Bard's poetic genius was fueled by an out-of-control libido. What's never quite clear is how Shakespeare's feelings for either muse could extend beyond the carnal, since Lucy and Herbert are presented as pretty but vapid. To compensate for this dramatic void, Graves offers an intense performance that feels overcooked, although some degree of genuine class is found in the sublime Zoë Wanamaker's too-brief appearance as Herbert's regal mother. Not recommended. (P. Hall)