I have seen the shortened version of Hamlet, and this second film from the actor/director is a really good comedy drama with plenty to please, e.g. great dialogue, many famous faces and some good giggles. Kenneth Branagh directs, produces, writes (screenplay) and stars in this great film from the play by William Shakespeare. Basically young lovers Hero (Click's Kate Beckinsale) and Claudio (Dead Poets Society's Robert Sean Leonard) are marrying in a week, and to pass the time, most of the people at the grand place are deceiving bachelors Benedick (Branagh) and Beatrice (Emma Thompson) that they love each other. Meanwhile, evil Don John (Keanu Reeves) plans to break up the wedding by accusing Hero of infidelity. In the end, Benedick and Beatrice find out there was never discussions of love, it was "much ado about nothing". Also starring Richard Briers as Signor Leonato, Michael Keaton as Dogberry, Denzel Washington as Don Pedro of Aragon, Brian Blessed as Antonio, Imelda Staunton as Margaret and Ben Elton as Verges. The highlights for me are Branagh listening on a conversation, trying to sit on a pop-up chair and making bird sounds when almost caught gasping. Very good!
Review of Much Ado About Nothing
