Hamlet

2/7/2022

Without a doubt, Branagh's film of **HAMLET** is the most ambitious Shakespeare film to date. He goes all in on.. well, everything. He brings aboard a stellar all-star cast, too many to highlight all, but includes Billy Crystal, Robin Williams and Jack Lemmon - none of which are known for their Shakespearian pedigree. Branagh takes on Hamlet, the largest role in all of Shakespeare - and most English language literature. His interpretation is - not surprisingly - brilliant and worthy of study. Kate Winslet plays his challenged love Ophelia, and Derek Jacobi is the fraudulent King. Rounding out the largest roles, Julie Christie is the doomed queen and Richard Briers is the fussy Polonius. All excellent in their handle of the language and expression of humanity. Much of the film t

10/19/2026

**Summary: 10/10: an uncut, impeccably spoken "Hamlet" with a cast so improbable it borders on the miraculous, proof that Shakespeare fails only when the people performing him don't understand what they're saying, and triumphs completely when they do.** Some people have a gift that pulls brilliant people into orbit around their project, and Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet" is proof of how strong that gravity can be. Charlton Heston as the Player King. Robin Williams as Osric. Billy Crystal, of all people, as the gravedigger, cracking wise over Yorick's skull as though he'd been doing Shakespeare his whole career. John Gielgud, who had been playing Shakespeare since before most of these other actors were born, makes a cameo appearance as Priam. Even Richard Attenborough shows up in this film.