Hamlet (2000)
Like many inhabitants of Hollywood, Shakespeare's works have been undergoing face-lifts to keep up with the times. In the past five or six years, filmmakers have brought updated versions of the Bard's most celebrated plays to a younger, lazier audience. Five years before Moulin Rouge, Baz Luhrmann directed Romeo + Juliet, set in Verona Beach, FL. Taming of the Shrew became the enjoyable 10 Things I Hate About You in 1999. Dealing with issues of school shootings, O (Othello) was released two years after production ended, because of the Columbine tragedy. In early 2000, director Michael Almereyda released a gloomy adaptation of Shakespeare's most beloved play, Hamlet.
Ethan Hawke (Reality Bites) plays the Prince of Denmark Corp., located in New York City. The King and CEO of Denmark, Hamlet Sr. (Sam Shepard) dies suddenly and suspiciously. Hamlet Sr.'s brother Claudius (Kyle MacLachlan) hastily marries Gertrude (Diane Venora), his deceased brother's wife. Claudius assumes leadership of Denmark Corp. after the marriage. These events are the prologue of the film.
Shortly into the movie, the ghost of King Hamlet appears to tell his son that Claudius is indeed the murderer. Less than surprised, Hamlet vows revenge like a good son; however, he is conflicted. Is the ghost truly the spirit of his father, begging Hamlet to set things right? Or rather, is it a demon that assumes a pleasing shape to tempt the young man into self-damnation? The rest of the play centers on Hamlet gathering evidence of Claudius's guilt.
One of Hamlet's strongest points is the cinematography. The general picture quality is outstanding, partially due to watching this movie on DVD. The crisp, beautiful sets dare the viewer to look away from the screen. Most of the scenes in the streets of New York take place during the night hours. This symbolizes the solemn mood of the title character.
Hawke has done an excellent job of portraying Hamlet as a depressed young man, while some of the earlier Hamlets (Laurence Olivier, Kenneth Branaugh, and Mel Gibson) concentrated on Hamlet's "antic disposition." Hawke's Hamlet always wears dark clothing, and he spends his time making amateur films of himself and the other characters.
Almereyda keeps most of the plot pieces, thus maintaining the integrity of Shakespeare's original work. Some of the play's best-known parts have been slightly twisted for the purpose of modernization. For example, Hamlet delivers his famous "To be or not to be" speech while browsing through a Blockbuster. A short film by Hamlet, which reenacts his father's murder, takes the place of The Murder of Gonzago.
My pet peeve in Hamlet is the exclusion of Yorick in the graveyard scene near the end of the film; "Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio - a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy." In fact, the absence of the clever conversation between Hamlet and the gravedigger is the reason that this is one of my least favorite adaptations of Hamlet.
For an intriguing mixture of culture and style, watch Almereyda's Hamlet. It's easy to see why Hamlet has been Shakespeare's most popular play for centuries. It has murder, betrayal, insanity, revenge, etc. Hell, it's the historical inspiration for soap operas.
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Shakespeare's language is difficult enough to understand while sober. Watching this movie drunk is like watching a film in Portuguese . . . without subtitles.
Hamlet dumps Ophelia for no substantial reason. You might look good in comparison, but don't count on it, buster!
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