Review of Hamlet (1996) by Matthew B — 05 Jan 2008

This is the David Lean approach to Shakespeare: elegantly sprawling, visually opulent with Alex Thomson's scintillating 65mm cinematography, rollicking with Patrick Doyle's score, and star-studded with an international cast.

Kenneth Branagh finds no great fan here, but his performance as the title Danish prince is, indeed, a cinematic tour de force. He never reaches the pinnacle set by Olivier, but he ably balances his mania with some of Hamlet's most tender scenes, and, often, he surpasses even Olivier in revealing the prince's aching humanity.

Also, while Olivier as the director focused entirely on the central family and all the pseudo-Freudian facets of the characters, Branagh presents the illustrious drama in its voluminous entirety; this is, likely, the best cinematic option for anyone unfamiliar with the ubiquitous tragedy.

The performances are really beyond criticism. Derek Jacobi sifts through the choppy waters of Claudius with fastidious craft; he ably balances the spidery king's many emotions, from his annoyance turned contempt for Hamlet and his ultimately terminal adoration for Gertrude.

The queen, too, is adequately sculpted by the gloriously beautiful Julie Christie, who shines marvelously in the boudoir scene with Hamlet and the concealed Polonius. Kate Winslet is heartrending as the shattered Ophelia, though she is never lost in the hysterics of the part; she is always muted and piteously, pathetically cautious.

Brian Blessed is riveting as the Ghost, though, one must concede that Paul Scofield would have been perfect. Michael Maloney (quite a little pissant) and Nicholas Farrell are both captivating as Laertes and Horatio, though Richard Briers comes close to stealing the entire show with his masterful portrait of Polonius; he is both adoringly paternal and hilariously stupid - it is a Shakespearean performance for the ages.

One of the weaknesses of the film is the sheer scope, which is occasionally more distracting than embellishing. Some of the cameos are comically irrational; it is a shame to see the eminent Richard Attenborough wasted as the English Ambassador, one can only imagine why Gerard Depardieu was cast in the minute role of Polonius' attendant, and John Mills appears briefly as the once-mentioned Old Norway.

Most regrettably, Rufus Sewell, perhaps the most overrated actor working today, glowers his way through the role of Fortinbras; luckily, the role is powerful only as a volatile juxtaposition to Hamlet's inactivity and Sewell can do no real harm.

On the other hand, the other cameos are delightful, including Billy Crystal's wisecracking Gravedigger, Robin Williams' silly Osric the fop, Charlton Heston and Rosemary Harris' Player King and Queen, Jack Lemmon's surprisingly acute Marcellus, and Sir John Gielgud and Dame Judi Dench, perhaps the two most esteemed Shakespeareans still kicking at the time, who gloriously mime the doomed Priam and Hecuba.

This is, perhaps, the most glorious, thunderous, and beautiful cinematic adaptation of the Bard's dramas - it is an experience that should not be missed.