Four hours of full-tilt Shakespearean tragedy is a tall order for a cinema audience, but so vigorous is this full-text, 70mm production from director and star Branagh that its epic tale of outrageous fortune is a brightly lavish success. Branagh has played the Prince of Denmark "about 200-300 times" and his tragic hero is a triumph of assurance. White-blond, whip-slim and crisply dashing, this 19th century Dane is a defiant sprite, flailing at a fate he cannot control. But there's unexpected humour, too, as sparky interactions and observations stud the darkness like twinkly points of light.
With its themes of lust, betrayal, madness and revenge, Hamlet is a perennial masterpiece that questions the very essence of humanity. Fittingly, Branagh has assembled an interestingly eclectic, if uneven, cast. Lovely Christie is a haunting Queen Gertrude, whose marriage to Hamlet's uncle Cornellius [sic...haha] (a brilliantly snaky Derek Jacobi) just weeks after the king's death, enrages the impassioned prince. Richard Briers is fun as the scheming Prime Minister Polonius, but an affected Kate Winslet grates as his stricken daughter Ophelia. Charlton Heston, Billy Crystal and Robin Williams do unexpected justice to, respectively, the Player King, Gravedigger and simpering courtier Osric, though Jack Lemmon is disappointingly weak as Marcellus.
A two-hour trim-down of the colossus will be released on June 12. Yes, it's an easier
prospect, but stay the distance with this marathon and its dense weight of riches yields mighty
and memorable rewards. Grade B+.
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