When you rent the 1996 version of Hamlet, be prepared for a long evening. You'll get an intermission, and you'll need it, because the running time is four and a half hours. This is one of the longest movies ever made!
Adapted, directed, and starring Kenneth Branagh, you'll be treated to his finest performance as he puts every part of himself into the role. Even if Hamlet isn't your favorite of Shakespeare's works, you'll be able to recognize his incredible talent. There are others among the cast who deliver their Shakespearean monologues in the typical theatrical way-meaning it was in a foreign language and I couldn't understand a word they were saying-but Kenneth Branagh does what very few have been able to do: make Shakespeare seem like English. If you're going to tune out and get more popcorn, do it during someone else's scene.
Among the supporting players, Derek Jacobi plays Hamlet's uncle, Julie Christie plays Gertrude, and Kate Winslet plays Ophelia. While it makes much more sense in the story for Ophelia and Hamlet to have a physical relationship, not every version chooses to show that. In this version, there is a sex scene or two, shown in flashback; many flashbacks are used during dry monologues to show the audience what's going on, and it's a neat way to breathe a little more life into the stage play. Kate still seems enormously green as an actress, coming off her early role in Sense and Sensibility, so if you're like me and like her mature performances better, you won't like her as Ophelia. It is possible to find a seasoned actress, or at least a quick study or one who can pretend she knows what she's doing, and still be young enough to play Ophelia. They've made a million versions of Hamlet, and not every Ophelia has made the audience cringe. Julie Christie, who came out of retirement to take her role, might also make you cringe as she wears a constant smirk throughout her scenes. I didn't know if she was constantly on the verge of laughing, thought she wasn't in the frame, or had a very strange interpretation of the character. Needless to say, if you're going to sit through four and a half hours, you won't be doing it for the ladies, you'll be doing it for Kenneth Branagh.
Keep your eyes open for many recognizable faces, and in his trademark of casting, you'll find many actors who'd never, ever be cast in a Shakespearean play and now get the opportunity to show the audience that they, too, can speak a foreign language. Can you imagine Jack Lemmon, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, and Gerard Depardieu speaking Shakespeare? Now you can hear it! The latter has a cameo, with most of his lines consisting of "Yes, milord," but it's very cute. Back in 1989, Gerard dubbed Kenneth Branagh's lines in the French version of Henry V and widely promoted the movie overseas, and as a thank you, he was included in Hamlet. You'll also find Charlton Heston, Rufus Sewell, Nicholas Farrell, Rosemary Harris, Michael Maloney, Ken Dodd, Richard Briers, Reece Dinsdale, Richard Attenborough, and if you blink, you'll miss John Gielgud, Judi Dench, and John Mills making appearances.
It's impossible to talk about this version of Hamlet without mentioning the visuals, which were nominated at the Oscars for Art Direction and Costumes, but passed over in favor of The English Patient. If you ever get bored, you can stare at the details in the costumes or sets and be perfectly entertained. In Hamlet's library, the shelves are full of books stacked in different directions, knick-knacks crowding the shelves, and pictures lining the walls. The main hall is covered in a stunning patterned floor, adorned with beautiful furniture, and crowned by a staircase that frames the shots very nicely. The setting was adapted to the late 1800s, and Alexandra Byrne's costumes are rich and beautiful.
Every Shakespeare has its highs and lows, and even though I'm heaping praise on this version, there are some boring bits. After all, the screenplay didn't cut any of the original text! The highlights are the visuals, a wonderful performance by Charlton Heston, and Kenneth Branagh's emotional outbursts. The "get thee to a nunnery" scene is very touching, and it's inventively filmed in a room of mirrors. Weigh the pros and cons to help you decide which version you want to rent.
Adapted, directed, and starring Kenneth Branagh, you'll be treated to his finest performance as he puts every part of himself into the role. Even if Hamlet isn't your favorite of Shakespeare's works, you'll be able to recognize his incredible talent. There are others among the cast who deliver their Shakespearean monologues in the typical theatrical way-meaning it was in a foreign language and I couldn't understand a word they were saying-but Kenneth Branagh does what very few have been able to do: make Shakespeare seem like English. If you're going to tune out and get more popcorn, do it during someone else's scene.
Among the supporting players, Derek Jacobi plays Hamlet's uncle, Julie Christie plays Gertrude, and Kate Winslet plays Ophelia. While it makes much more sense in the story for Ophelia and Hamlet to have a physical relationship, not every version chooses to show that. In this version, there is a sex scene or two, shown in flashback; many flashbacks are used during dry monologues to show the audience what's going on, and it's a neat way to breathe a little more life into the stage play. Kate still seems enormously green as an actress, coming off her early role in Sense and Sensibility, so if you're like me and like her mature performances better, you won't like her as Ophelia. It is possible to find a seasoned actress, or at least a quick study or one who can pretend she knows what she's doing, and still be young enough to play Ophelia. They've made a million versions of Hamlet, and not every Ophelia has made the audience cringe. Julie Christie, who came out of retirement to take her role, might also make you cringe as she wears a constant smirk throughout her scenes. I didn't know if she was constantly on the verge of laughing, thought she wasn't in the frame, or had a very strange interpretation of the character. Needless to say, if you're going to sit through four and a half hours, you won't be doing it for the ladies, you'll be doing it for Kenneth Branagh.
Keep your eyes open for many recognizable faces, and in his trademark of casting, you'll find many actors who'd never, ever be cast in a Shakespearean play and now get the opportunity to show the audience that they, too, can speak a foreign language. Can you imagine Jack Lemmon, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, and Gerard Depardieu speaking Shakespeare? Now you can hear it! The latter has a cameo, with most of his lines consisting of "Yes, milord," but it's very cute. Back in 1989, Gerard dubbed Kenneth Branagh's lines in the French version of Henry V and widely promoted the movie overseas, and as a thank you, he was included in Hamlet. You'll also find Charlton Heston, Rufus Sewell, Nicholas Farrell, Rosemary Harris, Michael Maloney, Ken Dodd, Richard Briers, Reece Dinsdale, Richard Attenborough, and if you blink, you'll miss John Gielgud, Judi Dench, and John Mills making appearances.
It's impossible to talk about this version of Hamlet without mentioning the visuals, which were nominated at the Oscars for Art Direction and Costumes, but passed over in favor of The English Patient. If you ever get bored, you can stare at the details in the costumes or sets and be perfectly entertained. In Hamlet's library, the shelves are full of books stacked in different directions, knick-knacks crowding the shelves, and pictures lining the walls. The main hall is covered in a stunning patterned floor, adorned with beautiful furniture, and crowned by a staircase that frames the shots very nicely. The setting was adapted to the late 1800s, and Alexandra Byrne's costumes are rich and beautiful.
Every Shakespeare has its highs and lows, and even though I'm heaping praise on this version, there are some boring bits. After all, the screenplay didn't cut any of the original text! The highlights are the visuals, a wonderful performance by Charlton Heston, and Kenneth Branagh's emotional outbursts. The "get thee to a nunnery" scene is very touching, and it's inventively filmed in a room of mirrors. Weigh the pros and cons to help you decide which version you want to rent.