Cinematographer Lukasz Zal, Composer Max Richter, and Director/ Co-Writer Chloe Zhao have crafted a sumptuous film that is both beautiful to watch and entrancing to listen to (since the score enhances the movie’s emotional depth). Jessie Buckley’s performance is superb, and she is my A.A. pick for Best Actor in a Leading Role for a drama. I thought the first half of the film was a bit slow, but the second half is excellent. I can’t say much about the plot, even though it’s a historical film, since I assume that many of you won’t know Shakespeare’s life story. Although about Shakespeare’s life, the movie belongs to Buckley, who has much more screen time and she makes the most of it. (FYI, Buckley was also fantastic in “Wild Rose” (2018) about an Irish country & western singer. Check out my review HERE.)
Agnes (Jessie Buckley) is the daughter of a forest witch living in the beautiful & lush English countryside. Agnes is very connected to nature. Will (Paul Mescal) is tutoring some children while he’s writing a play, but he hasn’t had a play shown yet and is years away from becoming “The Bard.” Will sees Agnes strolling through the forest and is “bewitched” by her. They soon fall in love and get married, opposing Will’s parents’ disapproval of Agnes. Soon, Agnes gives birth to a daughter, Susanna (Bodhi Rae Breathnach), and, a few years later, fraternal twins: Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe) and Judith (Olivia Lynes). Everything is going well until Will decides that he needs to move to London in order to make it as a playwright. The whole family can’t move with him, since Judith has respiratory problems and it would be dangerous for her to live in the filthy London air. Will not being home enough after he relocates to London puts a considerable strain on their marriage.
A family tragedy occurs, which ultimately serves as the inspiration for Hamlet. The last twenty minutes of the film shows scenes from Hamlet, which can now be seen through the lens of Shakespeare working through his grief. The film is intense, but well-worth seeing, and I anticipate that it will receive an A.A. nomination for Best Picture. In this case, “to see or not to see” isn’t the question!
Cinematographer Lukasz Zal, Composer Max Richter, and Director/ Co-Writer Chloe Zhao have crafted a sumptuous film that is both beautiful to watch and entrancing to listen to (since the score enhances the movie's emotional depth). Jessie Buckley's performance is superb, and she is my A.A. pick for Best Actor in a Leading Role for a drama. I thought the first half of the film was a bit slow, but the second half is excellent. I can't say much about the plot, even though it's a historical film, since I assume that many of you won't know Shakespeare's life story. Although about Shakespeare's life, the movie belongs to Buckley, who has much more screen time and she makes the most of it. (FYI, Buckley was also fantastic in "Wild Rose" (2018) about an Irish country & western singer. Check out my review HERE.) Agnes (Jessie Buckley) is the daughter of a forest witch living in the beautiful & lush English countryside. Agnes is very connected to nature. Will (Paul Mescal) is tutoring some children while he's writing a play, but he hasn't had a play shown yet and is years away from becoming "The Bard." Will sees Agnes strolling through the forest and is "bewitched" by her. They soon fall in love and get married, opposing Will's parents' disapproval of Agnes. Soon, Agnes gives birth to a daughter, Susanna (Bodhi Rae Breathnach), and, a few years later, fraternal twins: Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe) and Judith (Olivia Lynes). Everything is going well until Will decides that he needs to move to London in order to make it as a playwright. The whole family can't move with him, since Judith has respiratory problems and it would be dangerous for her to live in the filthy London air. Will not being home enough after he relocates to London puts a considerable strain on their marriage. A family tragedy occurs, which ultimately serves as the inspiration for Hamlet. The last twenty minutes of the film shows scenes from Hamlet, which can now be seen through the lens of Shakespeare working through his grief. The film is intense, but well-worth seeing, and I anticipate that it will receive an A.A. nomination for Best Picture. In this case, "to see or not to see" isn't the question!
Hamnet: (I Didn’t Mis-Spell the Title)
Hamnet: (I Didn’t Mis-Spell the Title)
2026-01-21
David
85
8.5
Jessie Buckley Deserves A.A.!
Will Be in My Top Ten for 2025!
User Rating : No Ratings Yet !
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