Search - Hamlet

William Shakespeare's classic tale is brought to the screen for the third time in ten years in this modernized interpretation. Writer/director Michael Almereyda updates the story to the present day, where Hamlet (Ethan Hawke) is a struggling filmmaker whose personal and familial trials are set against the machinations of a huge production firm called the Denmark Corporation. Joining Hamlet as he seeks revenge for the death of his father and the wedding of his mother to an enemy are Kyle MacLachlan as Claudius, Julia Stiles as Ophelia, Bill Murray as Polonius, Sam Shepard as the ghost of Hamlet's father, Diane Venora as Gertrude, Steve Zahn as Rosencrantz, and Dechen Thurman as Guildenstern. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Ethan Hawke - Hamlet
Kyle MacLachlan - Claudius
Sam Shepard - The Ghost
Diane Venora - Gertrude
Bill Murray - Polonius
Julia Stiles - Ophelia

2000

Best Cinematography (nominee)

Independent Spirit Awards

John DeBorman

Michael Almereyda's modernization of Hamlet comes to DVD with a widescreen anamorphic transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The closed-captioned English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1. There are no subtitles on this release. There are no supplemental materials of any consequence. This challenging film was a hit on the art house circuit, but failed to connect with a mass audience. Disney/Buena Vista has done nothing to help the situation with this barebones, high-priced disc, even if the film does look and sound excellent. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

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