Julius Caesar (2012)
March 17, 2024 12:39 PM - Subscribe

Film version of the Royal Shakespeare Company's 2012 production of Shakespeare's fast-moving thriller. A vivid story about a struggle for democracy, Julius Caesar is also a love story between two men united by an explosive act of political violence. The setting is a modern African state in which the tyrant Caesar is about to seize power. Cassius persuades Brutus to join the conspirators plotting an assassination. Featuring a distinguished cast of black actors, filmed on location and in Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Royal Shakespeare link
Original Guardian Review.
Londonist Review for more context.

Just Watch info - also available on region free DVD from various library sources. Also streaming from BFI in the UK (and maybe others).

Every scene with Paterson Joseph as Brutus and Cyril Nri as Cassius was amazing. I could probably watch those two stab tyrants for days.

Also stars the stunning Adjoa Andoh as Portia (who you may know from Bridgerton), Ray Fearon as Marc Antony and Jeffery Kissoon as Caesar.
posted by fiercekitten (5 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Plot summary in case you'd forgotten like me.

I saw this when I was a teen at our local Shakespeare festival and as a design choice all the murders took place behind a white sheet. At the end of the play, it was completely covered in blood. Really drove home just how bloody the whole business was, and also highlighted how visceral the original productions probably were. Lots of blood, lots of screaming, lots of dying.
posted by fiercekitten at 12:43 PM on March 17


I really liked this when I saw it. Ray Fearon's "Friends, Romans, countrymen" is one of the best renditions of that speech I've ever seen.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 1:13 PM on March 17


Saw this live, thought it was great.
posted by praemunire at 2:19 PM on March 17


Paterson Joseph? I'M IN.
posted by humbug at 3:31 PM on March 17


Right now it's on Kanopy, a limited streaming service that is usually included for free with most library cards in the USA. I plug it whenever I can-- support local libraries! I'll definitely be spending one of my "Kanopy credits" to watch this one.
posted by seasparrow at 6:43 PM on March 17


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