Much Ado About Nothing
1993 Directed by Kenneth Branagh
Synopsis
Young lovers Hero and Claudio are to be married in one week. To pass the time, they conspire with Don Pedro to set a "lover's trap" for Benedick, an arrogant confirmed bachelor, and Beatrice, his favorite sparring partner.
Cast
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Has there been a better Benedick or Beatrice on film? I was always a little doubtful of Branagh on the screen, and too uninformed or ignorant of him on the stage to comment, but having watched this I now see the mark of the man. His Benedick is nothing short of brilliant, whether spitefully sparring with Beatrice in their 'merry war' or unsuccessfully attempting to play the romantic poet, every comic beat is hit, every physical act fully exploited for dramatic effect. Some could find certain elements a tad broad for their tastes, but this is Benedick as he was meant to be. Emma Thompson's Beatrice is similarly ideal. So perfect and funny that her character's silence at the end,…
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No matter how many times I watch this, I will never understand why Keanu Reeves of all people was cast. One of the worst performances I've seen in a good movie. It does'nt help that this mediocrity shows, being overpowered by a much better cast.
Still, he does'nt ruin the film in any way. This is wonderfully acted by the magnificent ensemble of Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Kate Beckinsale, and many others. Beautiful landscape and cinematography. Funny and lively, almost like an old-fashioned comedy from Hollywood's Golden Age. This is a fun adaptation of one of William Shakespeare's lighter films, but with a Pythonesque touch that works pretty well.
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The best thing about "Much Ado About Nothing" are Denzel Washington, Robert Sean Leonard and the other "conspirators" running around like 5-year-olds, laughing their heads off. And Kenneth Branagh and his folding chair, of course. Mix that with really beautiful pictures of people and countryside and you've got a brilliant movie.
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Not a bad little rom-com, but Keanu is horribly under-utilised, and clearly not enjoying his role.
The director makes complete fools of Michael Keaton and Ben Elton, seemingly trying to be post-modern Pythonesque. I'm sure that Dogberry can be played well. I think I've seen it done.
Ken and Emma put in another adequate performance, though they once again fail to expose the genius of the text. Perhaps their strategy is to present the "lite" experience of Shakespeare to a less discerning rabble? Good job, then.
Watchable.
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This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.
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A solid adaptation of one of Shakespeare's better plays.
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Part of '30 Years, 30 Movies': 1993
This was a pretty nice day to watch this. I didn't feel too good so I wasn't really up for going outside but it is a very sunny day and the view from the windows in my flat is very nice. So, to watch a film bathed in beautiful sunny scenery like this is probably a good decision. I did enjoy Much Ado About Nothing though, regardless of the conditions I watched it in. It was a fun, fluffy movie that kept the feel of Shakespeare in tact while make the story much more understandable than some productions have been known to do. I really admire Kenneth Branagh's commitment to not try and…
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Cada vez que la veo me resulta igual de fresca. Kenneth Branagh y su máster especializado en Shakespeare nos dan una gran comedia repleta de actorazos y donde los más débiles son Keanu Reeves y Robert Sean Leonard.
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http://margaretperry.org/on-this-unworthy-scaffold-experiencing-shakespeare-on-film/
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"Friendship is constant in all other things, save in the office and affairs of love."
Luego de ver el avance de la versión de la obra de William Shakespeare según Joss Whedon, me acordé que Kenneth Branagh había filmado su visión de la historia en los 90. Tenía mucho que no la veía, quizá tendría unos 13 años cuando me topé con la película un domingo en la tarde, pero recuerdo que la disfruté muchísimo.
Ahora que le di un segundo vistazo, he de decir que es impresionante el amor que Branagh le tiene a la obra de Shakespeare, no por nada es el estandarte por excelencia de esta manera de contar historias. Much Ado About Nothing es básicamente una…
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Hey, nonny nonny!
A better Benedick than Kenneth Branagh there never was.
I want to BE Emma Thompson.
Can I just watch the two of them interact as Benedick and Beatrice forever? How much money would I need to hire them to go through life in character? I think I need to go rob a bank.In general I think this could have been cast better. Kenny-boy and Emma steal the show, but Denzel and Keanu leave much to be desired.
The one glaring catastrophe in this is Michael Keaton's Beatl--I mean, Dogberry. It's like watching Beetlejuice with none of the likability.
Too creepy to ever watch again.
Will be fast forwarding through it when I re-watch.Kenneth Branagh does Shakespeare better than anyone else. Better than the Bard himself, even.
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Kenneth Branagh once again brings out the best in Shakespeare by collecting a great cast and giving the film a great energy. Branagh and Emma Thompson spark off each other as Benedick and Beatrice nicely and Richard Briers is an effective Leonato, as is Denzel Washington as Don Pedro. Only Keanu Reeves seemed a tad out of his depth as Don John but as it's a small role it didn't matter that much. It was interesting seeing the play in its proper setting, as I have only seen it in a modern setting on stage and Branagh made good use of the natural surroundings, such as the Benedick overhearing scene, where he hides behind hedges. Possibly the weakest of his adaptations that I've seen so far but the play itself is weaker than Henry V and Hamlet so that's not saying much.
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I know we are all looking forward to the Joss Whedon Much Ado, but this one sets a pretty high bar. As does any movie that lets Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh do their period piece thing. Throw in a young Kate Beckinsale, a charming Denzel Washington, a lil Robert Sean Leonard, and a comically awful Keanu Reeves and you have quite a charming show.