Hamlet (1996)

REVIEW
Attempting to film the entire four-hour verse of Shakespeare's masterpiece, the first time the entire play has been adapted for the screen, director-star Branagh has created one of the most thrilling and accessible adaptations of Hamlet to date. It's fairly extravagant in detail but significally intimate in emotion. In addition to his articulate direction, Branagh as actor is revelatory as the mad Prince of Denmark. His performance never waivers in intensity or focus, and he is able to extract lighter moments heretofore unrealized. The supporting cast for the most part is examplary. Jacobi absolutely scintillates as the calculating Claudius, Christie is a regal Gertrude, and Briers' exhilaratingly new interpretation of Polonius is more politician than fool. The stunt casting of American actors is hit (Heston's actor, Crystal's gravedigger) and miss (Lemmon's guard).