Review of Hamlet (1996) by Jillian M — 18 May 2009

With astonishing ambition, actor/director Kenneth Branagh dares to produce Shakespeare's greatest and longest tragedy as an epic film. Running just over four hours, Branagh's adaptation removes none of the text, and only occasionally rearranges the dialogue or scenes.

The inclusion of Charlton Heston and Julie Christie in the cast, the elevation of Fortinbras' subplot by featuring his invasion of Denmark, and the bold choice to shoot on lavish 70 mm strengthen the connections to famous epics like "Lawrence of Arabia," "Ben-Hur," or "Dr.

Zhivago." However, the epic size does not thin down the emotions of the characters, nor does Branagh's wonderful visual emphasis overshadow the subtleties of Shakespeare's poetry. The foundation of all is the uniformly strong cast.

Charlton Heston has a brilliant cameo as the Player King, and Derek Jacobi, aided by the full text, brings seldom seen depth and complexity to the cunning Claudius. Elsinore in this version is not a dark and gloomy castle; shot mostly on location at Blenheim Palace, the setting instead features opulent whites and gold, rich colours, and a vast and open throne room.

The brightness and beauty of this Elsinore does not veneer but rather lays bear the moral corruption of the kingdom. The many mirrors and hidden doors in the palace emphasize the themes of duality and seeming.

Branagh often moves his camera around the characters and throughout the sets in long tracking shots, or slowly dollies in during extended takes, never letting the editing disrupt conversations or quiet moments of melancholy and introspection.

When the play heats up, such as during "The Mousetrap," flashbacks and rapid cuts are used to heighten the tension. Outstanding filmmaking and a keen understanding of the play make this certainly the best film version of "Hamlet," if not the best film of Shakespeare.