A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999) directed by Michael Hoffman

Starring Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett, David Strathairn, Stanley Fucci, Calista Flockhart, Anna Friel, Christian Bale, Sam Rockwell, John Sessions, and Sophie Marceau
reviewed by Debra & John Murphy

Debra Murphy:
Michael Hoffman’s film depicts a universe freely inhabited by faeries and dwarves, satyrs and all sorts of benign if mischievous forest folk, who weave in and [...]

Much Ado About Nothing (1993) directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh

© 2004 John Murphy
Much Ado About Nothing was a minor sensation upon its release in 1993. By that time, Kenneth Branagh had come to be regarded as a cinematic Wunderkind, gene-splicing Orson Welles and Laurence Olivier. Flush from the success of heavy-hitters like Henry V and Dead Again, the tireless auteur released this sunny show, [...]

The Merchant of Venice (2004) directed by Michael Radford and starring Al Pacino

Like The Passion of the Christ released a year before, Michael Radford’s film of The Merchant of Venice is doomed to pre-viewing judgment. Is the play anti-Semitic? This question resurfaces anytime and anywhere the play is produced. Renowned lit critic Harold Bloom offered these memorable words, “One would have to be blind, deaf, and dumb [...]

Looking for Richard (1996) directed by and starring Al Pacino

In his directing debut, Al Pacino has given us one of the most accessible Shakespeare spinoffs ever for the screen. Smart, witty and energetic, Looking for Richard is a delight to watch, offering insight into Shakespeare and his iconic Richard III, and giving the viewer a behind-the-scenes look at how a production of the play [...]

Vidclips from Kenneth Branagh's Love's Labour's Lost

First, here’s the trailer to Branagh’s LLL:
“When love speeks…” Branagh tap- and word-dances to the rhythm of iambic pentameter:

Vidclips from Titus (1999) directed by Julie Taymor

If ever there was a “you-re not in Kansas anymore” Shakespeare adaptation, it is Julie Taymor’s gorgeous and horrifically violent screen adaptation starring Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange and Alan Cumming. Here are some way cool bardclips therefrom:
First, here’s the trailer:
This is the amazing scene-setting opening, probably my favorite scene:
And, if you can stomach it, The [...]

Twelfth Night (1996) directed by Trevor Nunn

© 2004 John Murphy
Trevor Nunn’s Twelfth Night, released in 1996, is a handsome adaptation, well cast and eminently watchable. What it lacks in inspiration, it makes up for with faultless performances and a consistent tone.  However, as much as I admire this thoroughly competent version of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, I have to confess a decided [...]

Vidclips from Hamlet (1948) starring and directed by Laurence Olivier

Here is a video clip of the “Get thee to a nunnery scene” (with Jean Simmons as Ophelia) from the 1948 Hamlet directed by and starring Laurence Olivier:
(Click here to read our review of this film)

Vidclips from Kenneth Branagh's 1996 Hamlet

The following are videoclips from Kenneth Branagh’s 1996 Hamlet
(Click here for our review of this film.)
“To be, or not to be…” (Act III, scene 1)
“How all occasions…” (Act IV, scene 4)

Othello (1989) vidclips, starring Ian McKellen, directed by Trevor Nunn

Here are some vidclips from the wonderful Trevor Nunn production of Othello, starring Willard White, Ian McKellen, Imogen Stubbs, and Zoe Wanamaker:
(See our review here.)

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