| Running Time: 111 mins.
Rated: PG-13.
Ah, Kenneth Branagh. What can you say about a filmmaker whose mission in life seems to be to bring Shakespeare to the masses? Primarily, you must say that the man is talented. Usually when you see the same name in the producer, screenplay, director and star credits, you think that you’re about to see some Hollywood indulgence (like Hoffa), but not in Branagh’s previous foray into Shakespeare, Henry V, nor here. Branagh has a feel for Shakespeare and modern times not seen since Roman Polanski turned Macbeth into a modern splatter movie. In fact, Branagh was so successful with Henry V, I suspect its what led Mel Gibson to play Hamlet.
You don’t like Shakespeare, you say? Bad memories from English lit class in high school? Well forget it. You won’t have much trouble understanding the language here, for he gets his performers (particularly himself and his then-wife, Emma Thompson) to deliver the lines with such verve and panache you would almost think that he wrote the whole thing from scratch using modern english, not Willy’s rhyming couplets. Virtually every North American should be able to understand every single word of dialogue.
Let’s start with the story. Set in a manse in Messina, in Northern Sicily, a prince and his entourage return from some war or another. They are greeted by the Lord of the Household, and a great party ensues. One of the soldiers falls head over heels for the Lord’s daughter, much to the consternation of the prince’s bastard (in both senses of the word) brother, who vows that he will see this union broken up (mostly for his own amusement, not because of jealousy). In the parallel plot, the prince determines that another soldier and the cousin of the above woman, who sling poisoned verbal barbs at each other any chance they get, should be married. And on we go. To the guts of the flick.
The acting is superb. Simply superb. There isn’t a performance on screen that is not excellent.
Denzel Washington plays the prince, and Keanu Reeves plays his bastard brother, Don John. Washington again proves that he is an actor of great ability, taking on the Shakespearian mantle with verve and panache. He is truly deserving of any Academy Awards that he has, and will receive in the future. Reeves here is far superior than the last performance I saw him in (as Harker in Bram Stoker’s Dracula), although he is by far and away the least comfortable in the Shakespearian mode. Branagh, as the avowed eternal bachelor and sharp tongued rogue Benedick, is easily up to the task. Branagh has Shakespearian experience from the stage, and he looks the most natural in this mode.
His delivery is sharp, easy and fast, never stumbling on the tough bits. His face is amazingly expressive, showing that film is the best medium for him. Michael Keaton plays the town constable, delivering the obligatory (in a Shakespeare play) bawdy, broad comedy relief (what a damnable odd thing to say about a performance in a comedy), and is very enjoyable. Robert Sean Leonard (to me, best remembered from Dead Poet’s Society) is simply fine as ‘no beard’, or the youngest of the bunch (named Claudio), who becomes instantly smitten by the beautiful Hero (played wonderfully by Kate Beckinsdale). And keep an eye out for the wonderful small bit by one of my favourites, Brian Blessed as the Lord’s brother.
Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson were (when this flick was lensed), in real life, husband and wife, and it shows here that he loved her. At least his camera loves her. She looks astonishingly gorgeous, with a deep tan and wonderfully low cut bodices. And she pulls off her part as the sharp tongued Lady Beatrice with as much ease as her husband plays Benedick. The scenes where these two fling barbs at each other are simply a joy to behold. These two need to be in more flicks together. That, of course isn’t to say that Emma should eschew working with Sir Anthony Hopkins (see Howard’s End and/or The Remains of the Day), because she is great opposite him, as well. Let’s face it, she’s simply a great actress, another who deserves every Oscar that the Academy can give her.
On to other aspects of the flick. The location, (truly somewhere in Southern Europe, I can’t right now remember exactly where) is ideal, and looks great. The costumes (by Phyllis Dalton) are dead bang on in terms of period detail, and set direction is marvellous. And Branagh’s direction... well. It’s great. In many a Shakespearian adaptation, the director stages the action much like a stage play, and it hampers the show, by cramping the style. Here, Branagh opens up the view, and keeps his camera subtly in motion, moving it slowly, almost imperceptibly, making you feel as if you are right there, sort of like eavesdropping on a juicy bit of scandal. It’s awesome. His direction is as fine as both his acting and his writing. Sheesh. Does this guy have no end to his talent?
I look back over what I’ve just written, and I realize that I’ve been fairy gushing over Much Ado About Nothing. This is one damned fine movie, very engaging, very funny, able to keep even the most jaded action/adventure fan engaged (my father was laughing and chuckling throughout) through the entire running time. My opinion: it’s a keeper, and see it as soon as you can. Adieu. |
