- Directors:
Campbell Scott;
Eric Simonson - AMG Rating:
- Genre: Drama
- Movie Type: Tragedy
- Themes: Conspiracies, Righting the Wronged, Rise and Fall Stories
- Main Cast: Campbell Scott, Blair Brown, Jamey Sheridan, Roscoe Lee Browne, Lisa Gay Hamilton
- Release Year: 2000
- Country: US
- Run Time: 178 minutes
Plot
Campbell Scott is both star and co-director of this elaborate (albeit economically produced) four-hour TV version of Shakespeare's immortal tragedy Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. The film is based on Scott's earlier theatrical production of the same play, with several of the same actors repeating their same roles. Updated to 1900 New York, the text remains substantially the same as it has always been: Hamlet (Scott), the "melancholy" Danish prince, discovers to his horror that his late father, the King, was murdered by his brother (and Hamlet's uncle) Claudius (Jamey Sheridan), who upon ascending to the throne, added insult to injury by wedding Hamlet's mother, Gertrude (Blair Brown). Though his desire for revenge is strong, Hamlet does not want any more bloodshed, and concocts an elaborate scheme to "catch the conscience" of Claudius and force him into a confession. Part of this scheme involves Hamlet's feigned descent into madness -- which, as interpreted by Scott, may not be as "feigned" as he thinks it is. Caught in the middle of this intrigue is Hamlet's lady love, Ophelia (Lisa Gay Hamilton), daughter of Claudius' chief consul, Polonius (played in the manner of a protocol-conscious Victorian diplomat by Roscoe Lee Browne). Some of the choices made by Scott in adapting Hamlet to the screen -- the turn-of-the-century setting; the utilization of black actors in the roles of Polonius, Ophelia, and Laertes (who is played by Roger Guenveur Smith); the casting of Byron Jennings to play both the Ghost of Hamlet's father and the Player King, who pretends to be the father -- were applauded by the critics. Other innovations, notably the use of slow jazz music throughout the action, and Hamlet's violent treatment of poor Ophelia during the "Get thee to a nunnery" scene, were not so enthusiastically received. Whatever the case, Scott does a remarkable job with a tiny budget and a slim 29-day shooting schedule. In addition to the actors' lilting interpretation of the Shakespearean dialogue and soliloquies, the film boasts a truly exciting climactic duel, shot in long takes without the use of stunt doubles. Initially produced for a theatrical release, this Hamlet made its American debut as a cable TV miniseries on the Odyssey Channel, beginning December 10, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie GuideReview
Daring innovations mark this 2001 production of Shakespeare's Hamlet, set in the U.S. South in the early 1900s. For example, Polonius (Roscoe Lee Browne) and his children, Ophelia (Lisa Gay Hamilton) and Laertes (Roger Guenveur Smith), are black; Rosencrantz (Michael Imperioli) and Guildenstern (Marcus Giamatti) are Mafia-style hit men; and the weather is always fair. But the biggest surprise of all is that the innovations succeed wonderfully without distorting the plot. To be sure, Shakespeare purists may balk at the extent of the changes, one of which has Ophelia ranting on a dinner table and another of which has Hamlet reciting "To be or not to be" while supine on the floor. But there can be no gainsaying that there is method in the madness of directors Campbell Scott, who also plays Hamlet brilliantly, and Eric Simonson. Their goal is to make Shakespeare highly relevant to modern audiences. Thus, the skin color of Polonius and his family introduces racial prejudice as a possible explanation for Polonius' subservience to Claudius, for Hamlet's rejection of Ophelia, and for Laertes' fierce hatred of Hamlet. In addition, the acting style -- in which the players recite their lines distinctly in ordinary conversational tones -- makes them seem like real people. In portraying King Claudius, Jamey Sheridan is particularly adept at this recitation style. Never does he overstate his lines or overplay his role. Blair Brown also performs with distinction as Queen Gertrude, making it easy to believe that a woman could remarry while her late husband is still warm in the grave. This production deserves a place on the all-time list of best Shakespeare productions. ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide
Cast
- Campbell Scott - Hamlet
- Blair Brown - Gertrude
- Jamey Sheridan - Claudius
- Roscoe Lee Browne - Polonius
- Lisa Gay Hamilton - Ophelia
