Tag Archives: Shakespeare

Hamlet - * *

Posted on May 12, 2000 by Madeleine Williams

Contemporary retelling of Shakespeare’s famous play. Ethan Hawke stars as Hamlet. Also starring are Kyle MacLachlan (Claudius), Sam Shepard (The Ghost), Julia Stiles (Ophelia), Diane Venora (Gertrude) and Bill Murray (Polonius). Liev Schrieber, Steve Zahn, Casey Affleck and Jeffrey Wright … Continue reading →

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William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream - * * *

Posted on May 14, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Not to be confused with all those other Midsummer Night’s Dreams out there, William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is an adaptation of, you guessed it, William Shakespeare’s beloved comedy. Boasting a star-studded cast, Michael Hoffman’s adaptation is mostly faithful … Continue reading →

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10 Things I Hate About You - * 1/2*

Posted on March 31, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Ten Things I Hate About 10 Things I Hate About You: 10. The Downsizing of Shakespeare. Poor William Shakespeare. Who’d have thought his plays could sink so low. 10 Things I Hate About You is loosely (very loosely) based upon … Continue reading →

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Shakespeare in Love - * * * 1/2*

Posted on December 11, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

Shakespeare in Love is a delightful romantic comedy with a literary twist. A fictionalized account of a few months of Shakespeare’s life, the film manages to humanize the greatest English writer of all time, and delivers a splendid time while … Continue reading →

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Hamlet - * * * *

Posted on December 25, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Kenneth Branagh delivers an excellent uncut adaptation of William Shakespeare’s most famous play. Branagh directs and stars as Hamlet, the Danish prince. Julie Christie plays Queen Gertrude, and Derek Jacobi is Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle, now king. The casting follows the … Continue reading →

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William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet - * * *

Posted on November 1, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Very strange modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet has a few more hits than misses. Baz Lurhman directs this updated version of Romeo and Juliet. Although placed in a modern setting, the dialogue remains Shakespeare’s (for the most part, some … Continue reading →

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The Twelfth Night - * * 1/2*

Posted on October 25, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

The latest adaptation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is light but entertaining. Imogen Stubbs stars as Viola, who, shipwrecked in a foreign land, assumes the guise of Cesario. As Cesario, she finds employment in the court of the local Count Orsino … Continue reading →

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Looking for Richard - * * * 1/2*

Posted on October 11, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

What is Shakespeare? Why are his works so reknowned, and why is it so difficult to successfully deliver one of his plays to an American audience? These are a few of the questions Al Pacino poses and attempts to answer … Continue reading →

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Richard III - * * * 1/2*

Posted on December 29, 1995 by Madeleine Williams

Shakespeare’s play works well, even when it has been transposed into the 1930s. Ian McKellen plays the title role, as the deformed Duke of Gloster, who schemes, plots, and murders his way into the title of King Richard III. First, … Continue reading →

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Othello - * * *

Posted on December 8, 1995 by Madeleine Williams

Condensed version of the Shakespeare tragedy. Laurence Fishburne is Othello, the talented general serving the Duke of Venice. At the outset of the film, he and a senator’s daughter, Desdemona (Irene Jacob), are married in secret. His ancient, Iago (Kenneth … Continue reading →

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