Review of Much Ado About Nothing (1993) by Bill H — 09 May 2012

Riveting, hilarious, and one of the best casts I've ever seen.

I must speak first of Michael Keaton playing the ass Dogberry. Constable Dogberry, the incompetent officer, is a standout role in his hapless attempts to bring justice that he just happens to stumble upon. (Away! Away! You are an ass! YOU! ARE! AN! ASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!) Then Branagh brings the amusement in the lord of all bachelors Benedick. Out of left field comes, of all people, Denzel Washington as Don Pedro of Aragon. Washington plays a convincing powerful duke with a sense of humor and contrasts with the joyless man who plays his bastard brother, the villainous Keanu Reeves as Don John (No I could not stop making Bill and Ted jokes.). In this dark and disturbing role, Keanu shocks me in his delivery of lines that are FAR more complicated than "Woah!" and "EXCELLENT!" and crafts what may be called a competent, nay excellent, performance.

Branagh delivers again with the Bard. If only his version of Love's Labours Lost was as inspired...