Hamlet *** (1990, Mel Gibson, Glenn Close, Ian Holm, Alan Bates) – Classic Movie Review 1294

Co-writer/director Franco Zeffirelli’s 1990 Shakespeare movie has an unexpected star in Mel Gibson, who personifies the much-tormented Prince of Denmark lustily and honourably, giving a strong, earnest performance. It was a brave thing to do since Gibson’s only previous Shakespearean experience was playing Juliet in an all male production of Romeo and Juliet in Australia. But he comes off well, and is a generally great deal better than most people expected, gaining widespread good reviews, as did the film.

Gibson is properly furrowed of brow, powerfully moved by vengeance and high on noble concern, though it is a performance that all plays more or less on the one note. But that’s not entirely his fault, Shakespeare is to blame for most of that. Truly, there are not a lot of laughs in Hamlet. Nevertheless there is some action. Depicting Hamlet as an experienced fencer pays off in an appeal to Gibson’s action fans.

Employing the right talent, Zeffirelli ensures that his film looks and sounds stupendous, a typically glorious, sensual object. And if it is easy on the eye, it is easy to watch too since sharp, intelligent pruning of the text has got the longish play down to a manageable, movie-friendly sprightly couple of hours and a quarter (135 minutes). Zeffirelli uses Gibson’s experience in action movies to advantage, for example in the fight between Hamlet and Laertes.

The movie is perhaps a bit low on poetry and on majesty but it is also brisk paced, coherent and involving, and best of all it is way more lusty and entertaining than usual. And there are immaculate performances from Glenn Close (a sexy Gertrude), Ian Holm (an amusing Polonius), Alan Bates (a creepy Claudius) and Paul Scofield (a ghostly ghost of Hamlet) to help it enjoyably along. Close (born 1947) seems far too young as Mel’s mom – indeed she’s only nine years older than Gibson (born 1956).

Helena Bonham Carter, Stephen Dillane, and Nathaniel Parker also star as Ophelia, Horatio and Laertes, so it’s very well cast. Also Trevor Peacock is The Gravedigger, Pete Postlethwaite is the Player King, John McEnery is Osric, Richard Warwick is Bernardo, Christien Anholt is Marcellus, and Michael Maloney and Sean Murray as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The cast includes three actors – Scofield, Bates and Holm – who had played Hamlet on stage or film and features two actors – Dillane and Maloney – who went on to play Hamlet on stage.

It is notable as the first film from Icon productions, the company co-founded by Gibson. Happily, it took more than $20 million at the box office, which is pretty good going for a movie Shakespeare.

Christopher de Vore is co-writer, while David Watkin provides the classy cinematography, Oscar-nominated art director Dante Ferretti the production designs, Oscar-nominated Francesca Lo Schiavo the lovely costume designs, and Ennio Morricone the score, so it certainly really does look and sounds a treat. Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven, Blackness Castle were used as locations with Dover Castle as the main location for Hamlet’s home of Elsinore Castle.

Kenneth Branagh filmed it again as Hamlet six years later in 1996, with himself as the great Dane and a running time of  242 minutes.

Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey in Romeo and Juliet (1968).

Zeffirelli also filmed Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew (1967) with Burton and Taylor and Romeo and Juliet (1968) with young Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey.

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http://derekwinnert.com/romeo-and-juliet-1968-classic-film-review-437/

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1294

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more film reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/