The film uses dramatic gesturing and a soundtrack that perfectly characterizes the emotions and tone branagh seeks to convey in each scene. With his own special viewpoints and skills, he has brought several of them to film, including much ado about nothing, hamlet, and king henry v. These names dont seem so out of place in a shakespeare film but this movie is equally noteworthy for who else is it. But as an aesthetic whole, much ado is less than completely.
In the opening scene of much ado about nothing, kenneth branagh insists on the tone the movie will take. As you like it premiered in theatres in europe, but premiered on television in the u. The breezy, colourful much ado won the praise of critics and attracted an unusually large and diverse audience. Sir kenneths film version of much ado about nothing was released in 1993 and starred the actor as benedick with his then wife emma thompson as.
Much ado is one of my favourite plays, and although i was none too happy about kenneth branaghs heavyhanded film version much inferior, i think, to his excellent henry v and hamlet, i. Much ado about nothing film by branagh 1993 britannica. One of the mysteries of branaghs film is why he chose to produce this particular play. Much ado about nothing isnt shakespeares most famous play to tackle thorny issues of gender the taming of the shrew has that honour but it is certainly one of the most complicated. Much ado about nothing 1993 this 1993 film version of shakespeares play is a colorful, ebullient romp, with a cast made up of british and american actors, as is often the case with major cinematic shakespeare offerings. Like every early entry in the shakespearian oeuvre, much ado has passages of wonderfully executed drama, and contains devices and themes which will emerge more convincingly in the later plays. Englands kenneth branagh is extensively trained and experienced in the production and performance of shakespeares plays on the british stage.
I look forward to watching more of branaghs adaptations, and hope they are as good as much ado about nothing. Much ado is a rich, quotable comedy, with kenneth branaghs 1993 adaptation the longstanding definitive film version that you can absolutely use to bluff your way through a classy shakespearequoting life. Much ado about nothing, shakespeares convivial story of the sarcastic twosome whose mutual friends all realize should unite as a couple, has had in the past quarter century not one but two film versions worth watching. It was adapted for the screen and directed by kenneth branagh, who also stars in the film. Much ado about nothing 1993 directed by kenneth branagh.
Branagh plays benedick, emma thompson acts as beatrice, kate beckinsale is hero, and keanu reeves plays don john. Actor and director, kenneth branagh adapted shakespeares popular stage play much ado about nothing into a film in 1993. Mark deming, rovi actor kenneth branagh made his directorial debut with a rousing screen adaptation of william. Kenneth branagh and emma thompson in much ado about nothing 1993 kenneth branagh turned shakespeares high comedy into a ripe loveletter to tuscany. Branagh stole my ideas for shakespeare movie of much ado. Kenneth branagh chose vignamaggio as the setting for his 1993 adaptation of the theatrical comedy much ado about nothing. Kenneth branagh s 1993 film of much ado about nothing is a british and american romantic comedy, based on william shakespeares renowned production. That year thompson also played a 1930s housekeeper in the remains of the day. Much ado about nothing after going increasingly astray with two contemporary outings, kenneth branagh returns to the high and, for him, safe ground of shakespeare with much ado about nothing, a. Director, actor, and writer kenneth branagh brings a dazzling energy to the screen in this production of much ado about nothing. Other articles where much ado about nothing is discussed. This variance in interpretation is exemplified in comparing two of the more recent cinematic adaptations of shakespeares comedies, trevor nunns twelfth night and kenneth branaghs a much ado about nothing much ado. A few minutes into the film the large italian baths are alive with activity.
When gallant don pedro denzel washington, his nefarious brother don john keanu reeves, and close confidantes claudio robert sean leonard and benedick kenneth branagh ride. Centered around two romances hero kate beckinsale and claudio robert sean leonard, and benedick kenneth branagh and beatrice emma thompson the story follows these very different courtships. Kenneth branaghs film version of william shakespeares much ado about nothing focuses on the relationship between beatrice and benedict and alters the plays depiction of several characters. The games and tricks played on people often have the. Much ado about nothing falls somewhen during kenneth branaghs run of remarkable movies almost two decades ago, at a time when branagh was being touted as cinemas newest fairhaired filmmaker. Much ado about nothing resources movie or tv productions. The directors control over every aspect of the film allows him to. Characters are clearly having sex near an open window, as seen from a courtyard. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Whilst the purists will doubtless gibe at is populist tone, much ado about nothing is a very creditable attempt to bring shakespeare to the masses and proves that.
And let me assure you, much ado about nothing is very much shakespeare done right. Kenneth branaghs 1993 film, much ado about nothing is an enthusiastic and boisterous retelling of shakespeares comedic play. With kenneth branagh, emma thompson, keanu reeves, kate beckinsale. It really helped me to understand the plot when i saw it acted. Director kenneth branagh, the irish firebrand who brought film audiences back to the bard in the thrilling henry v, rectifies that oversight. However, in the 1993 branagh film balthasar sings beautifully, the song is also given a prominent role in both the opening and finale and the message appears to be embraced by the women in the film. To me, this movie in the wake of henry v, dead again, and peters friends cemented him as one of my favorite actordirectors. Kenneth branaghs much ado about nothing 1584 words. In my mind, his beautiful adaptation of much ado about nothing is the perfect shakespeare film. This is the best film i have seen of much ado about nothing, and one of the best shakespeare films.
In much ado about nothing, there are many examples of deception and selfdeception. From the very first moments of the film, the play has a joyful, vibrant life to it that cant be attributed to any single factor. The kenneth branagh and joss whedon movies show why they could not be more different though each is fast and easy to follow. Kenneth branaghs colour version has stood the test of time, and is a good alternative with its abundant energy and patrick doyles splendid music. Young lovers hero and claudio, soon to wed, conspire to get verbal sparring partners and confirmed singles benedick and beatrice to wed as well. Set in the countryside of messina, kenneth branaghs 1993 adaptation of much ado about nothing is comedic, romantic, and cheerful.
But josh whedon has surpassed branagh with a subtle, understated, funny, and intelligent. Much ado about nothing rolling stone music, film, tv. Introduction to the 1993 film much ado about nothing. Coming out in 1993, the film starred ken branagh, his then wife emma thompson, richard briers, and brian blessed. Much ado about nothing 1993 what can i say, i love kenneth branagh. This is wonderfully acted by the magnificent ensemble of kenneth branagh, emma thompson, denzel washington, kate beckinsale, and many others. Much ado about nothing is kenneth branaghs adaptation of one of shakespeares betterknown comedies. Kenneth branagh does a fine job at bringing these older stories to live in a relatively modern way, without straying far from the original meanings. Branagh is known for his film adaptations of william shakespeare, beginning with henry v 1989, followed by much ado about nothing 1993, hamlet 1996, loves labours lost 2000 and as you like it 2006. Much ado about nothing movie location in villa vignamaggio. The film consists of a starstudded cast, including branagh as benedick, emma thompson as beatrice, denzel washington as don pedro, kate beckinsale as hero, and robert sean leonard as claudio to name a few. These are healthy, joyful young people whose high spirits will survive anything, even the dark doublecrosses of shakespeares plot.
Kenneth branaghs love for the material is contagious in this exuberant adaptation. Much ado about nothing is a 1993 britishamerican romantic comedy film based on william shakespeares play of the same name. Earlier this week i had searched roku for director kenneth branaghs 1993 version of much ado about nothing, i chose, i paid and was directed to the version. Film versions of shakespeare comedies 2205 words 9 pages.
Much ado about nothing is a film directed by kenneth branagh with kenneth branagh, emma thompson, robert sean leonard, denzel washington, year. With such juicy performances and branaghs commitment to stay as faithful to the original text as possible make this one of the most amiable film adaptations of a shakespearean play. Centered around two romances hero kate beckinsale and claudio robert sean leonard, and benedick kenneth branagh and beatrice emma thompson. So lets dive into ken branaghs much ado about nothing. This comedy, written by william shakespeares in 1599, has enjoyed immense and lasting success, the title used to this today to describe a situation when a big fuss is made over something unimportant. In sixteenth century messina, sicily set on and around governor leonatos estate, villains are outwitted, lovers wed and dancing concludes an underlining major conflict, ado about nothing. Much ado about nothing also features michael keaton in a showy turn as dogberry.
Sunshine and laughter, and merrymakers on a hillside sprinkled with flowers. See more ideas about kenneth branagh, keanu reeves and emma thompson. The branagh much ado about nothing is a dreamlike house party set in and around a magnificent tuscan villa in the erotic heat of an italian summer. Kenneth branaghs 1993 film of much ado about nothing is a british and american romantic comedy, based on william shakespeares renowned production. Kenneth branagh, emma thompson, keanu reeves, kate beckinsale, richard briers, imelda staunton, jimmy yuill, brian blessed, andy hockley, chris barnes, conrad nelson, phyllida law, kenneth.
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