At first I though Tennant (37 or 38 years old then) might have been a little old for the role but it's one that he played already on stage (this is a film of that same cast from an RSC production I believe). He also acts quite youthful, especially in the parts where he is mad/feigns madness. His madness is a lot more of "angry young man" than "around the bend." Tennant's Scottish accent does creep in during some emotional scenes. The line readings in this version is quite conversational despite being the same words we've heard before.
Having Stewart play both Claudius and his dead brother is a good value add. The men are supposed to be vastly different in character but to have the same actor playing twins/brothers just points out how much Claudius has been able to deceive. Despite how they appear the same on the surface, skindeep they are different and Stewart evokes two distinctive personalities in his two parts. There are times, such as when he tries to convince Laertes of his innocence, where he almost comes off as a flim-flamming snake oil salesman. There was one moment near the end of the film where he gave a shrug that felt odd to me, I don't know whose decision it was to do that. Another moment when the acting felt odd was when Gertrude drinks from the poison cup although she appears to know what's in it by a look, I don't think this was meant but it played off that way.
The more senior/seasoned actors also do a pretty good job, Downey and Davies. Gale's Ophelia doesn't portray much emotion or reaction for the audience, and the same can be said of the actor who plays her brother Laertes, Edward Bennett. But some of the other younger supporting members, such as Peter de Jersey as Horatio, are good.
The staging is in more modern times and here and there are a few lines or action with modern interpretations or a new way of staging. The arras that Polonius hides behind is one of the major modernizations in the script, and a more modern take is used in the swordfight that ends the play. This scene also has Hamlet using a videocamera to ostensibly film the play they are all watching, but he's actually watching Claudius through his camera. At times the action of the film is shown as video footage from a security camera video and perhaps this is the ghost's POV? There is at least one instance where Hamlet refers to these security cameras. I think all these modern takes are effective.
The open sets are minimal with antique furnishings and without walls and it doesn't take much to denote a great hall or a bedroom. Costumes are sleek and classically simple.
Some of the pacing could have stepped up a bit during the bits about Ophelia going mad but otherwise Tennant's performance is mostly engaging throughout and kept my attention (this is a three hour film). Overall this is a good production.
No comments:
Post a Comment