Review of All Is True

The script attempts to address the many vexed questions of WS' last years; but does so with dubious success. The problem being, that it poses questions for which it does provide answers. There are some hugely successful scenes; the gallows speech of Aaron from 'Titus Andronicus" (particularly clever as Aaron brings forth a boy - which his speech shall save); the ticking off of his antagonists, and the sly 'second bed' MacGuffin. The Ian McKellen 'Dark Lady' scene seemed an excuse for a gratuitous cameo. It is almost as if the gods of Olympus had mounted a frame play, but chose the minor poet Metriótita to craft the script. The special effects scenes with Hamnet are poignant, yet lack the magical realism at which Shakespeare excelled. The pacing often dragged, and the garden metaphor - while apt - became tedious at times. Fab costumes and sets. Neighbor's dog should be nominated for a Woofie!