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"This
'Hamlet' is the Thing"
by Scott Mantz
"Hamlet"
Ethan Hawke, Julia Stiles Directed by Michael Almereyda
To be, or not
to be a film enthusiast--that is the question! After watching this
impressive, clever, and intense version of "Hamlet", the 34th cinematic
adaptation of William Shakespeare's most famous tragedy, the answer
is most definitely "to be!" Thanks to a modern and stylish update,
an ethereal and hypnotic soundtrack, and a brooding and angst-ridden
performance from Ethan Hawke, this is one adaptation that succeeds
in bringing the Bard into a whole new era.
The time is
2000, and the place is New York City. Hamlet (Ethan Hawke) is an
experimental filmmaker who's father (Sam Shepard), the head of the
Denmark Corporation, has just died. His mother Gertrude (Diane Venora)
has remarried the new CEO Claudius (Kyle MacLachlan), and in just
a few months, she seems to have forgotten all about her late husband.
Hamlet suspects that something is rotten in the Denmark Corporation,
and his hunch is proven correct when he receives a visit from his
late father's ghost. He's doomed for all eternity to walk the night
until his murderer is caught, and there's no doubt as to who that
can be. Hamlet devises a plan that will confirm his suspicions about
Claudius and avenge his father's death.
The fact that
so many of Shakespeare's plays have been effortlessly adapted into
modern settings speaks volumes about their timeless appeal. In "Hamlet",
the setting may be the glossy, corporate, and materialistic world
of New York City, but it never comes across as pretentious or self-righteous.
What's amazing is how much this classic tale of murder, deceit,
and revenge fits right in with today's cutthroat times. The story
is the same, but the updated setting only serves to accentuate the
drama of each scene. Hamlet's father makes his first grand exit
by disappearing into a Diet Pepsi machine. Instead of a play, Hamlet
uses one of his self-made movies to catch Claudius in the act of
hiding his deceit. Finally, the famous "to be, or not to be" speech
is delivered in--of all places--a Blockbuster Video store (in the
"action" section no less!).
Considering
that Hamlet was pretty much the ultimate Gen-X'er of his day, it
makes perfect sense that Ethan Hawke, the ultimate Gen-X'er of our
day, plays him so well. Just like with his previous films, he effortlessly
captures the angst and brooding personality of someone trying to
find his own identity. Think of "Reality Bites" meets William Shakespeare,
and you get the idea. He doesn't fit in with his family's posh existence,
and now he has to deal with the added pressure of trying to solve
his father's murder. It's no small feat, but Hawke succeeds in nailing
down the complex dialogue to make it his own.
Bill Murray
uses his cocky and sharp demeanor to nail down the role of Palonius,
loyal servant to Clauduis, and the father of Hamlet's love interest
Ophelia. At first Murray might seem awkwardly cast in a Shakespeare
film, but he pulls it off by accentuating his classic arrogance
and smarm. Julia Stiles has always been mature far beyond her years,
and here she takes another stab at the Shakespeare thing (she was
in last year's "Taming of the Shrew" update "10 Things I Hate About
You"). She's having a tough time controlling her love for Hamlet,
and her breakdown when she confronts him over her father's death
is one of the more powerful moments in the film.
Kyle MacLachlan
plays Claudius as the type of confident Wall Street shark that would
make Michael Douglas proud. He can bask in his success as much as
he wants, but no amount of glitz and glamour can hide a guilty conscience.
Sam Shephard delivers one of the film's most powerful performances.
When he first confronts Hamlet about the true nature of his fate,
his delivery is driven more by desperation than by simple revenge.
Diane Venora gives an inspired performance as Hamlet's mother Gertrude,
and Liev Schreiber is equally driven in his portrayal as Ophelia's
brother Laertes.
It wouldn't
be giving much away to say that "Hamlet" doesn't have the happiest
ending in the world (and if you don't know that by now, shame on
you). Where the stage play can go on for a butt-numbing 3 and 1/2
hours, this film version clocks in at just under 2. If you want
the complete text version, there's always Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet",
but if you're looking for a unique and modernized version of a timeless
classic, then this "Hamlet" is the thing.
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