Lucia: Edgar Allan Poe

The first time I came across Poe I was just twelve, so I’ve been a fan for quite some time. I had been reading Chesterton and Agatha Christie, mixing their stories with my compulsory books from school and I liked their cheerful main characters, who could solve a crime without losing their temper. Of course, you can’t simply grow to hate Father Brown or Miss Marple, but let’s face it, they were softies. Therefore, my Spanish teacher thought I could go in for something more challenging and suggested Poe’s famous tales. From the beginning, I totally loved them. And how could I not? As I grew up, I also learnt more about such a fascinating writer and, thus, I began to understand why he has become one of the most outstanding and influential figures of American literature.

To seize what Poe means to world literature, you must at least know what Romanticism was like. Romanticism was a total movement which evolved in different fields, such as literature, art, philosophy or history. What’s more, Romanticism was a way of living, a reaction against an old political and social system on the verge of disappearance. No wonder, since the 19th century it has also been a revolutionary period, full of changes when it comes to history: new countries were born from the ashes of the old ones, the industrial revolution transformed our world dramatically and the ancient established system began to crumble.

Immersed in this chaotic yet fascinating era, Poe was kind of a rebellious teenage punk, who became a dysfunctional adult, but also a brilliant writer, a poet, a journalist, a critic and one of the finest icons of American Romanticism. Born in Boston in 1809, his father abandoned his family and his mother, a theater actress who died at a young age. As an orphan, Edgar was taken in by a rich couple, who earnestly tried to gave him a good upbringing. It was all in vain, as he was expelled from both college and the army. His stepfather soon disowned him because, due to his social status, he didn’t want anything to do with a gambler. 

Then, Poe decided to earn his living with what he liked the most (and actually, the only thing he could do well enough): writing. He began to work for various newspapers in different cities, such as Philadelphia, Baltimore or New York. His distinctive style – caustic, ironic, but also smooth and elegant - made him really popular in no time. Nonetheless, he still had to fight against his own personal demons: gambling, alcohol, a depressive personality, an addictive and self-destructive nature ... he was always short of money and often had to depend on others in order to survive. Despite the fact that he was also considered a womanizer, he got married to his cousin, Virginia Clemm, when she was just 13! Although it is said that they had a brotherly relationship rather than a proper marriage, the truth is that he loved her dearly and, just like she gave him some peace of mind while she was alive, her early death, caused by tuberculosis, destroyed Poe’s sanity more than anything else had done before. He finally died just two years after her deceased wife, in 1849. After all this time, the causes of his death still remain unknown.

Burt Simpson confronts the Raven

Even though he only lived for 40 years, he had an intense literary life: lots of short tales, poems, essays, articles, reviews and a single novel ... He could scare, surprise or amaze people, all in just one go! The black cat, The murders in the Rue Morgue, The Tell-Tale Heart or his most famous poem, The Raven, still keep him alive all over the world, and his influence is noticeable on lots of writers who couldn’t escape from its uniqueness. Sherlock Holmes, the timeless detective created by sir Arthur Conan Doyle, wouldn’t have been the same without Auguste Dupin, a Poe character who appears in three of his tales. Even Jules Verne wrote a sequel to his novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. As the world keeps changing, I know something for sure: both horror and crime stories will always be related to Poe to some extent, but unfortunately, we will never be able to overcome him. Nevermore.

I always thought Poe’s life deserved a film which could tell his story, because it’s clearly as exciting as any of his works. By the time being, this is all we have:

The Raven movie is not a biopic nor is it related to the famous poem, certainly not. It is a thriller where a psycho is recreating Poe’s most famous crime stories on his own. A detective alongside Poe himself will try to stop him. Although I don’t know much more about this film – and it could end up being disappointing - I couldn’t be happier with the actor who plays Poe’s role, John Cusack.

Don’t Cusack and Poe really look alike? Well, I’ll surely watch this movie. As a loyal Poe fan, I can’t help it …

Paloma: "Anonymous", a must-see film

I don´t know for sure if everybody likes going to the cinema like me, but I am certain that somebody will agree on the idea that “Anonymous” is a sight for sore eyes.

Some months ago, I had thought of enjoying this film, but I was left wanting. So I managed to take the opportunity Iast eek. Not only did the film, written and directed by Roland Emmerich and John Orlooff respectively, not dash my hopes, but actually was beyond my expectations. 

I wish to emphasize some of the reasons that a person could have to see it: 

The Plot: Anonymous is both a political thriller and a pseudo-historical drama.  It is a fictionalized version of the life of Edward de Vere - a courtier, playwright and poet in Elizabethan times - who is portrayed as a literary prodigy and the true author of Shakespeare´s plays.

In successive flashbacks, the film evokes the reputed life of the Earl of Oxford (Edward de Vere) from childhood, through emotional and political entanglements (the Queen´s lover, insurrection …) to his death.

All through the story, we see how De Vere is forced first to live in a repressive, puritanical household, then blackmailed into a loveless marriage, and finally he is compelled to renounce literature. Nonetheless, the protagonist struggles against the taboo of writing for the blue-bloods. What is more, in spite of the fact that his literary work is considered a dishonour to his family, he will secretly continue to write because of the sudden awareness of how powerful - in terms of propaganda - art is.  In this respect, the Earl will write “Henry V” and “Richard III” – as propaganda designed to ”foment” revolt.  However, the veiled attack fails … things rush and the story is progressively unfolded before our very eyes.

Setting: Visually, the film is dazzling. It is a brilliant display of Elizabethan London, which is exquisitely recreated. To attain this perfection, the film was shot for the first time with a special camera which enhances most of the period backgrounds. In keeping with that purpose, the recreation of the royal rooms and costumes is painstakingly designed.  While the plot is unfolded in the grey half-light of dawn and in the smoky rooms, a majestic fashion show of ruffs, farthingales and halberds - among countless attires and other antique objects - … is displayed.

Talking of the atmosphere of this marvelous conspiracy story, one thing that caught my attention was the light: the director fills the screen with lights and shadows. We watch scenes at first light or when the sun is beginning to fade. In this respect, one can feel either beauty without being touched up or the streets’ squalor too; in any case, the best scenes are those of the candle-lit interior.

The cast: Anonymous boasts a cast of pure gold, which I couldn't agree more. The cast is memorable and the film's depiction of the nobility is superb. 

The film opens with a theatrical prologue delivered by Derek Jacobi whose voice and diction delight everybody, I know for sure. 

The director casts Rhys Ifans, who gives a stunning performance in the part of the Earl of Oxford. In a strange way he seems ennobled by his character, imbued with the culture of the nobility. It is difficult to identify him with his well-known portrayal of Spike, the skinny, shameless, foul-mouthed man who likes to walk around in bare body in Nothing Hill. 

Vanessa Redgrave, who performs the part or Queen Elizabeth, is unsurpassable; the scene in which she gazes out of a window, her eyes full of regret, is unforgettable.

Joel Richardson, who is actually Redgrave's daughter in real life, plays the role of young Queen Elizabeth. 

Rafe Spall, in his role as Shakespeare, provides delightful comic relief.  

Edward Hogg is splendid as the hunchbacked Robert Cecil, who makes spectators shiver.

Some other considerations: Although some critics say that this fascinating yarn is “a vulgar prank on the English literary tradition” or “a brutal insult to the human imagination”, there are those who love it. They praise the film as ingenious as well as memorable. 

For my part, I just loved it. Firstly, the director and the script do an excellent job fitting the known facts to the thesis in view. In spite of the fact that “the literary establishment” have ruled unanimously in favor of Shakespeare, the film lends support to the Oxford Theory and is against Shakespeare.

Secondly, the storyline includes moral blackmail, illegitimacy - bastard sons -, incest, treason and murde. Moreover, the “Virgin Queen” is challenged by Orloff´s script (portrayed as somewhat “randy”).  Another point to bear in mind is the bunch of handsome men that come up in the film, which is not to be underestimated. 

Although the film received mixed reviews from critics, the only thing I want to add is that I find it one of the most exciting films I have seen in recent times, and, without fear of making a mistake, it is worth watching. You will remain stuck to your seat!

Thanks Paloma, the rather long wait for the entry has been worth it! Of course the finishing touch is the official trailer of Anonymous. It's only a pity that many of you failed to see the film ...