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Buy on DVD

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead (1991)
starring Gary Oldman, Tim Roth and Richard Dreyfuss

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© 1997 John Murphy
(see also Debra's review here)

Though a dark, slightly surreal comedy that is not for all tastes, any fan of Shakespeare, the playwright, Tom Stoppard, or stars Gary Oldman and Tim Roth, should thoroughly enjoy this adaptation of the famous stage play.

Basically, this movie is Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” told from the befuddled points of view of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Tom Stoppard (who adapted his own play and directed) makes the interesting observation that R & G are merely pawns, thrust into a situation out of their control, or victims of fate, as it were.

As Rosencrantz, Gary Oldman steals the show as the confused, more innocent half of the duo, who never seems to know what do or how to act. This is a funny, delightful performance, that makes one wish Oldman, famous for his screen baddies and crazies, would do more comedy.

As Guildenstern, Tim Roth doesn’t have as crowd-pleasing a part as Oldman, but he is just as effective in his own right. Cynical, and looking constantly irritated at his less than brilliant other half, Rosencrantz, Roth delivers his lines drolly, and I liked his comic timing.

Stoppard has a signature style of writing which is better suited to the theatre than to film, and that would be this film’s major flaw--it is un-cinematic. Other than that, this is an eccentric, enjoyable, and very funny litlle movie with excellent performances.