Much Ado About Nothing (1993) YTS

Reviewed by DocTerminus 10 / 10

For Kenneth Branagh's 4th film he chose to

For Kenneth Branagh's 4th film he chose to return to The Bard that brought him here. He chose Shakespeare's farcical comedy **MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING**. I knew one thing going in... Shakespeare's comedies are rarely that funny. I knew something better coming out.. I could not have been more wrong. This film is not only funny and sexy, it is a treasure. This is the first Branagh film that he utilizes stunt casting - bringing in Hollywood talent into roles normally filled by Shakespearian actors. And while it isn't always perfect, there is no complaint. In fact Michael Keaton, Keanu Reeves and Denzel Washington shine some bright light toward the American talent pool. Of course, many of Kenneth's _'Shakespeare'_ friends are still along for the ride - Brian Blessed is amongst my favorites. Branagh's first major achievement with this film is on his screenplay treatment. Like his **HENRY V**, he has cut the screenplay down to a much more manageable Hollywood film length. It is taut and efficient. Nothing is missing for the casual Shakespeare fan. Of course the obsessed will find - or _won't_ find a lot of stuff. Branagh's second major achievement is shared by others in the cast, especially Emma Thompson. Their handle of the language and poetry of Shakespeare shifts what is often muddy and confusing dialogue to crystal clear and modern understanding. In fact you will find yourself smiling through most of their scenes together as they torture each other until their love takes over. In high school readings of any Shakespeare plays, students often get confused as to the social aspect of the stories... They would question why there is a party and why is everyone in the town celebrating it? Why do battles seem to be fought and won amongst only 10 soldiers? Why does it seem that marriages are performed on the same day that the couple first met? So many questions confuse students and the adults who grow from them. Branagh's most masterful achievement here is in answering these questions. During his **HENRY V**, Branagh used an incredibly impressive tracking shot through the death and destruction on the field of Agincourt. Just as impressive is the finale of **MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING**, including the audience in the celebration moving through the community and finally, up into the sky with a grand view of the love and excitement of all that are alive to experience it. It is obvious that Kenneth Branagh is a major fan of Shakespeare. I would venture to say that he is more than a fan, he is an artistic peer.

Reviewed by KineticSeoul 8 / 10

A well done adaptation of Shakespeare's work

Reviewed by bob the moo

Wonderful sparky fun which only flags in the final 10 minutes

The arrival of Don Pedro and his men at the home of Seigneur Leonato in Messina brings about much celebration. The spirit of love and happiness is alive in the party and Count Claudio and Leonato's daughter Hero make woo and engage to marry within a week. To pass the time Don Pedro makes a pledge to engage confirmed bachelor Benedick and the bickering Beatrice together in a tower of affection. However Claudio's brother, Don John, conspires to break up the wedding by making accusations against young Hero. Will it all be much ado about nothing?If anyone has done more to bring Shakespeare to a modern audience of multiplex dwellers, I'd like to meet them. Here Branagh yet again adapts a Shakespeare play to good effect, trimming the dialogue of some important sections with the aim of creating a lighter feel worthy of the title. I make no mention of the plot suffice to say that Branagh has done well to keep the essence and feel of the work very true but without forcing the tools that Shakespeare readily used but may not work on modern audiences easily (i.e. not being able to recognise someone easily when they wear a mask, veil or moustache!).The dialogue is very sparky as you'd expect and Branagh has done well to interpret the humour from the words on the page. I think of the dialogue around the police officer. Reading it from the page I never realised how much humour could be drawn form this characters scenes in terms of how the other characters view in. Of course the praise of lies with Shakespeare but Branagh knows the Bard well.The cast is international and all-star (probably to a greater extent than it needed or deserved). Branagh is pure wonder in the lead and really brings out the whimsy in many of his scenes. Thompson too is wonderful and the two play off each other well. The film lost a little when the two begin to woo, but it is still enjoyable. Briers is excellent and Blessed is a bit hammy and underused (forcing big background laughs). Reeves is OK in a small role the lack of significant dialogue helped him. Washingon fits in very well, Leonard is good but straight. Of the Hollywood stars I think Keaton does the best. When he is onscreen he is a little OTT but he is simply hilarious as the fool of the piece, and Ben Elton is an interesting sidekick. Beckinsdale is good but again is not given much meat to work with outside of her perfect love for Claudio.Overall this is a very enjoyable version of the play. Those who find Shakespeare difficult could do well to start here with something light and bubbly. Those who enjoy Shakespeare will enjoy it as another version. Only those who feel that the Bard should not be put onscreen for the masses (and there are some who think this way I have met them, they laughably call themselves purists elitists I think) will find fault here, because this clearly has mass appeal.

Much Ado About Nothing

1993

Action / Comedy / Drama / Romance

Much Ado About Nothing

1993

Action / Comedy / Drama / Romance

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Movie Reviews

For Kenneth Branagh's 4th film he chose to

A well done adaptation of Shakespeare's work

Wonderful sparky fun which only flags in the final 10 minutes

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