Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
March 17, 2024 12:00 PM - Subscribe
In this Shakespearean farce, Hero and her groom-to-be, Claudio, team up with Claudio's commanding officer, Don Pedro, the week before their wedding to hatch a matchmaking scheme. Their targets are sharp-witted duo Benedick and Beatrice -- a tough task indeed, considering their corresponding distaste for love and each other. Meanwhile, meddling Don John plots to ruin the wedding.
Was the January Pick for my Shakespeare Movie Club.
Original NY Times Review
Roger Ebert's thumbs up.
For those who Letterboxd
Stars Kenneth Branagh as Benedick and Emma Thompson as Beatrice, back when they were young and fresh.
Also stars a very young Kate Beckinsale as Hero and Robert Sean Leonard as Claudio. I think this was the movie that made me realize he had the chops to be a serious actor.
Keanu Reeves does a suitable Don John. He's such a "messy bitch" which we now recognize as a sort of toxicity through excessive amounts of reality TV. At the time it was a sort of stunt casting thing, to draw in the kids and get press about the movie.
Also Denzel Washington as Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon and a ton of other really great Shakespearean actors.
This version has probably been superseded by the Tennant/Tate version as a must watch. That one is sometimes available for streaming but I didn't know about it until I started on this project.
Original NY Times Review
Roger Ebert's thumbs up.
For those who Letterboxd
Stars Kenneth Branagh as Benedick and Emma Thompson as Beatrice, back when they were young and fresh.
Also stars a very young Kate Beckinsale as Hero and Robert Sean Leonard as Claudio. I think this was the movie that made me realize he had the chops to be a serious actor.
Keanu Reeves does a suitable Don John. He's such a "messy bitch" which we now recognize as a sort of toxicity through excessive amounts of reality TV. At the time it was a sort of stunt casting thing, to draw in the kids and get press about the movie.
Also Denzel Washington as Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon and a ton of other really great Shakespearean actors.
This version has probably been superseded by the Tennant/Tate version as a must watch. That one is sometimes available for streaming but I didn't know about it until I started on this project.
This is a pure "just vibes" movie, everyone at maximum prettiness except poor Michael Keaton, who is doing a reasonable Dogberry, just not that one that goes down as easily as the rest of the film.
I think if you weren't around at this time, you can't appreciate what a sensation Branagh's Henry V was in Shakespearean film adaptations. This was a good follow-up, and then he kind of lost the plot.
posted by praemunire at 2:23 PM on March 17 [3 favorites]
I think if you weren't around at this time, you can't appreciate what a sensation Branagh's Henry V was in Shakespearean film adaptations. This was a good follow-up, and then he kind of lost the plot.
posted by praemunire at 2:23 PM on March 17 [3 favorites]
Has it been superseded? If I google "Much Ado About Nothing movie," the top results are still for the 1993 version. Is this a thing where the algorithm knows I'm old?
Anyway, this movie is so good, and the only version that might arguably supersede in my heart is the Public Theatre's version with Danielle Brooks as Beatrice. (I have not seen the Tennant-Tate version, this is all bluster, but I love the 1993 version and the 2019 version both so much it seems unlikely I could love a third as well.)
posted by the primroses were over at 2:43 PM on March 17 [1 favorite]
Anyway, this movie is so good, and the only version that might arguably supersede in my heart is the Public Theatre's version with Danielle Brooks as Beatrice. (I have not seen the Tennant-Tate version, this is all bluster, but I love the 1993 version and the 2019 version both so much it seems unlikely I could love a third as well.)
posted by the primroses were over at 2:43 PM on March 17 [1 favorite]
The Branaugh/Thompson version is fine. It's very pretty.
But I initially imprinted on the 1984 BBC version with Cherie Lunghi as Beatrice and Robert Lindsay as Benedick. I videotaped it off TV and watched it over and over and over. I used to dream about Robert Lindsay. I still quote lines from it in more or less appropriate settings.
It's the One True Version in my world.
posted by Archer25 at 3:12 PM on March 17
But I initially imprinted on the 1984 BBC version with Cherie Lunghi as Beatrice and Robert Lindsay as Benedick. I videotaped it off TV and watched it over and over and over. I used to dream about Robert Lindsay. I still quote lines from it in more or less appropriate settings.
It's the One True Version in my world.
posted by Archer25 at 3:12 PM on March 17
I've seen clips of the Tennant-Tate version but never the whole thing. This thread prompted me to seek it out, and it looks like it's on the Internet Archive.
I do like the Branagh version, though I'm also partial to Joss Whedon's stab at it from 2012.
posted by bassooner at 6:45 PM on March 17 [3 favorites]
I do like the Branagh version, though I'm also partial to Joss Whedon's stab at it from 2012.
posted by bassooner at 6:45 PM on March 17 [3 favorites]
Yes, the Whedon 2012 version is really quite nice. He filmed it at his house in a few days, in black and white, cast his friends (when he still had any) and it's a favorite of mine. Nathan Fillion has an interesting take on Dogberry. And yes, Whedon is a terrible person, I know that now. Everyone knows that now. But for those willing to separate art from artist (and I understand if you aren't) it's worth a watch.
posted by seasparrow at 7:05 PM on March 17 [2 favorites]
posted by seasparrow at 7:05 PM on March 17 [2 favorites]
A couple I'm good friends with told me once that when they were watching this at home, they both suddenly sat upright about halfway through and looked at each other, realizing - "hang on, doesn't Emma Thompson's Beatrice sort of remind you of EC?"
They instantly became my FAVORITE PEOPLE when they told me that.
....I liked Tennant/Tate better, but - come on, they compared me to Emma Thompson.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:36 PM on March 17 [4 favorites]
They instantly became my FAVORITE PEOPLE when they told me that.
....I liked Tennant/Tate better, but - come on, they compared me to Emma Thompson.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:36 PM on March 17 [4 favorites]
Easily remains my favorite Shakespeare comedy film adaptation.
(Julie Taymor's Titus holds my tragedy top spot.)
posted by fairmettle at 12:08 AM on March 18 [3 favorites]
(Julie Taymor's Titus holds my tragedy top spot.)
posted by fairmettle at 12:08 AM on March 18 [3 favorites]
This one is fun and light, and Branagh and Thompson are great to watch together. Most of the other performers are... fine! Just fine. No one really amazing, but all do their job fairly well.
Whedon's version has some nice moments too, although I think spelling out the nature of B&B's past relationship at the very beginning was unnecessary. Not super into the mumblecore-lite feel, but it looks nice and some of the actors are quite good in their roles.
I'm not so keen on the Tennant/Tate version, even though I love the two of them. I feel like it's an example of the director's stylized vision overpowering (and often clashing with) the play's language a bit too much. The QEII tropical resort setting is a good idea, but they just hit it SOOO hard in every scene (and as much as I love Tate, her Beatrice is a bit too Donna from Doctor Who). Hero's character is a good example of how the production clashes with the text: she's portrayed as a hard-drinking party girl -- certainly no shy, blushing maiden untutored in the ways of the world... so why would she be so scandalized by Claudio's accusations that she was talking to a man at the window that she faints at the wedding? Perhaps nitpicking, but it seems like a glaring contradiction. But, it has been a while since I've seen it, so maybe I should give it another chance.
posted by Saxon Kane at 1:04 PM on March 18 [2 favorites]
Whedon's version has some nice moments too, although I think spelling out the nature of B&B's past relationship at the very beginning was unnecessary. Not super into the mumblecore-lite feel, but it looks nice and some of the actors are quite good in their roles.
I'm not so keen on the Tennant/Tate version, even though I love the two of them. I feel like it's an example of the director's stylized vision overpowering (and often clashing with) the play's language a bit too much. The QEII tropical resort setting is a good idea, but they just hit it SOOO hard in every scene (and as much as I love Tate, her Beatrice is a bit too Donna from Doctor Who). Hero's character is a good example of how the production clashes with the text: she's portrayed as a hard-drinking party girl -- certainly no shy, blushing maiden untutored in the ways of the world... so why would she be so scandalized by Claudio's accusations that she was talking to a man at the window that she faints at the wedding? Perhaps nitpicking, but it seems like a glaring contradiction. But, it has been a while since I've seen it, so maybe I should give it another chance.
posted by Saxon Kane at 1:04 PM on March 18 [2 favorites]
I'm not so keen on the Tennant/Tate version, even though I love the two of them. I feel like it's an example of the director's stylized vision overpowering (and often clashing with) the play's language a bit too much. The QEII tropical resort setting is a good idea, but they just hit it SOOO hard in every scene (and as much as I love Tate, her Beatrice is a bit too Donna from Doctor Who).
At the risk of being off-topic a bit -
I thought the director's vision, to stage it as a period piece from the 1980s, was actually kind of genius. It was like she realized that "okay, we have David Tennant and Catherine Tate, and that means my audience will likely not be comprised of Shakespearean scholars; setting it in the 80s will let me up the schtick some and appeal to them that way."
But it wasn't just a good choice because of the schtick - it was also a good fit plotwise. The setting was actually in Gibraltar, which was a UK military base then - and was widely regarded as the "party base" for soldiers who were coming off a tour of duty in the Falkland Islands war. Considering that the plot of Much Ado opens with Don Pedro and his men coming to Leonato's castle after having been in battle so they could relax, the Gibraltar/1980s setting makes sense. There was even an Argentinian plan to try to sabotage a ship stationed in Gilbratar to freak out the British and get them to beef things up there; but it sounds from this account like Dogberry was in charge.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:24 PM on March 18 [2 favorites]
At the risk of being off-topic a bit -
I thought the director's vision, to stage it as a period piece from the 1980s, was actually kind of genius. It was like she realized that "okay, we have David Tennant and Catherine Tate, and that means my audience will likely not be comprised of Shakespearean scholars; setting it in the 80s will let me up the schtick some and appeal to them that way."
But it wasn't just a good choice because of the schtick - it was also a good fit plotwise. The setting was actually in Gibraltar, which was a UK military base then - and was widely regarded as the "party base" for soldiers who were coming off a tour of duty in the Falkland Islands war. Considering that the plot of Much Ado opens with Don Pedro and his men coming to Leonato's castle after having been in battle so they could relax, the Gibraltar/1980s setting makes sense. There was even an Argentinian plan to try to sabotage a ship stationed in Gilbratar to freak out the British and get them to beef things up there; but it sounds from this account like Dogberry was in charge.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:24 PM on March 18 [2 favorites]
I didn't think the choice of period or location was the problem, just that they ratcheted up the goofiness to 11 and some of the characterizations -- Hero most notably imho -- were off.
posted by Saxon Kane at 2:31 PM on March 18
posted by Saxon Kane at 2:31 PM on March 18
Nathan Fillion has an interesting take on Dogberry.
This was a shocker for me. I found the movie overall not that impressive, the biggest flaw being that while Amy Acker made a perfectly fine Beatrice, Alexis Denisof as her partner was a rather limp Benedict. On top of that, Nathan Fillion as an actor is absolutely grating to me, I can usually barely stand more than an episode or two of anything he is in. But the Dogberry sequences are so good! Possibly the best I have ever seen.
posted by tavella at 5:47 PM on March 18 [1 favorite]
This was a shocker for me. I found the movie overall not that impressive, the biggest flaw being that while Amy Acker made a perfectly fine Beatrice, Alexis Denisof as her partner was a rather limp Benedict. On top of that, Nathan Fillion as an actor is absolutely grating to me, I can usually barely stand more than an episode or two of anything he is in. But the Dogberry sequences are so good! Possibly the best I have ever seen.
posted by tavella at 5:47 PM on March 18 [1 favorite]
These are some great observations so if anyone has any thoughts about Twelfth Night or As You Like It, pop over to the April Shakespeare Movie Club post and let me know your thoughts!
posted by fiercekitten at 7:20 PM on March 18
posted by fiercekitten at 7:20 PM on March 18
Branagh’s version is just such a visual feast for me.
posted by billsaysthis at 9:36 PM on March 19 [2 favorites]
posted by billsaysthis at 9:36 PM on March 19 [2 favorites]
Yes, it's so golden and beautiful, and everyone seems be having such fun.
posted by tavella at 8:58 AM on March 21 [1 favorite]
posted by tavella at 8:58 AM on March 21 [1 favorite]
I remember the first time I watched it thinking, Keanu god love ‘im but he’s a terrible actor.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 6:02 PM on March 22
posted by TWinbrook8 at 6:02 PM on March 22
He was...not ideal for the role. Just let the prettiness wash over you.
posted by praemunire at 6:50 PM on March 22
posted by praemunire at 6:50 PM on March 22
Not really a favorite movie. But it is one I like to watch from time to time. If only for the beginning. Don Pedro and Friends riding up to the villa! Raising their fists in glory! The Household excited for visitors! Everyone getting cleaned up before the guests are received! It's all very joie de vivre.
posted by Stuka at 2:34 PM on March 31 [1 favorite]
posted by Stuka at 2:34 PM on March 31 [1 favorite]
Picnicking on the beautiful hillside, eating grapes and listening to music! It's just one of those movies that is fun to hang out in.
posted by tavella at 8:47 AM on April 1
posted by tavella at 8:47 AM on April 1
I saw this in the theater, and around the same time saw ‘Bran Stoker’s Dracula’, and the two of them cemented my feeling that Keanu Reeves and costume dramas go together like peanut butter and sardines.
Benedict and Beatrice both seemed very old to me….my excuse is that I was a college freshman. I just checked and Branagh and Thompson were probably 32 when it was filmed.
It made a big impression on me. To this day I’ve got that god danger song stuck in my head. It starts playing every time I get to thinking about the terrible state of the world and how can anyone avoid despairing about it? Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more…hey, nonny, nonny.
posted by bq at 6:26 PM on April 4
Benedict and Beatrice both seemed very old to me….my excuse is that I was a college freshman. I just checked and Branagh and Thompson were probably 32 when it was filmed.
It made a big impression on me. To this day I’ve got that god danger song stuck in my head. It starts playing every time I get to thinking about the terrible state of the world and how can anyone avoid despairing about it? Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more…hey, nonny, nonny.
posted by bq at 6:26 PM on April 4
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
I think I watched it on Amazon when it was still available through Prime.
posted by fiercekitten at 12:20 PM on March 17