Hamlet

Name: Hamlet
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Romance
Released: May 12, 2000
Duration: 112 min
Rating: 70
Cast: Ethan Hawke, Kyle MacLachlan

2000

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Ratings

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6.4

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6.4	Your Score
6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Ratings

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Hamlet

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Movie Details & Credits

Miramax Films | Release Date: May 12, 2000 | R

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Kyle MacLachlan

Summary: Michael Almereyda's update of the Shakespeare play, starring Ethan Hawke as the young prince of the Denmark Corporation film empire.

Director: Michael Almereyda

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 112 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Almereyda excises big chunks of plot to shape his vision, but retains Shakespeare's language and pays such rigorous attention to meaning and subtext that what's missing isn't missed. Read full review

100

David Sterritt

The acting is smart and gritty, Almereyda's visual style has a raw immediacy found in few films with Shakespearean pedigrees, and an eclectic music score adds atmosphere and surprise every step of the way. Read full review

Peter Travers

Thou wilt be dazzled.

J. Hoberman

Stylish, funny, and smart...but only up to a point. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

Almereyda has done a splendid job of rendering Hamlet as expressive visually as it is verbally.

TV Guide Magazine Steve Simels

Has an interesting look, several sensational performances (notably from Kyle MacLachlan and Liev Schreiber) and in general works far better than it has any right to. Read full review

Jonathan Foreman

May well be the dullest and most pointless version ever filmed, thanks to a stunningly bad lead performance by Ethan Hawke.

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User Reviews

JacquelynM.

Jan 29, 2008

I really enjoyed this adaptation of Hamlet, being set in todays society made it easy to see why shakespeare can be set in time period and still fit so perfectly into that society.... I loved the imagery in the play, the use of the films, photographs and the beautiful asides given by Young I really enjoyed this adaptation of Hamlet, being set in todays society made it easy to see why shakespeare can be set in time period and still fit so perfectly into that society.... I loved the imagery in the play, the use of the films, photographs and the beautiful asides given by Young Hamlet(Ethan Hawke).....Most of all I loved that Shakespeares beautiful language was still held onto and conveyed with such passion.… Expand

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Ididthisforscho

Oct 27, 2020

A Modern Take on an Old Tale

The movie Hamlet (2000), directed by Michael Almereyda, is a modern-day take on Hamlet. It stars Ethan Hawk as Hamlet and Kyle MachLachlan as Cladius. The entire movie was filmed in New York City. The clothing is much more resemblant of what people wear nowadaysA Modern Take on an Old Tale

The movie Hamlet (2000), directed by Michael Almereyda, is a modern-day take on Hamlet. It stars Ethan Hawk as Hamlet and Kyle MachLachlan as Cladius. The entire movie was filmed in New York City. The clothing is much more resemblant of what people wear nowadays than what people wore in Shakespeare's time. There are numerous settings from a rooftop to a theatre that keeps the movie interesting at all times.

In New York City; “Denmark” is now a corporation, situated in the Hotel Elsinore. All the characters we’re portrayed fairly accurately with the exception of Fortinbras not being as present as he should’ve been. As for the actors, I believe that Ethan Hawk did an interesting job of portraying what a modern hay Hamlet would look like. I mean this in the sense that he was a sulking, slacker, always frustrated type individual like your average teenager nowadays. Ophelia was also played decently however it was odd to hear how, in New York, 2000, Polonius tells his daughter Ophelia about how Hamlet is too princely for her, while Laertes goes on to talk about her 'chaste treasure'? This felt very out of place considering the time this is. Not to mention several scenes were left out such as the graveyard speech, the insight into Ophelia's fate, etc. Nonetheless, issues like these were bound to come up when you try to do a modern adaptation of such an old play.

The lighting and scenery seemed fine, nothing much to boast about, but they did a decent job, to say the least. The camera work got particularly interesting around when Hamlet saw his Uncle praying and was considering whether or not to kill him. Outside of that particular scene, I don’t recall anything being that intriguing as well. Special effects were alright as outside of gunshot noises there really wasn’t anything else. Speaking of gunshot wounds, bullets are not really a substitute for poison, but I suppose they had to make do somehow. The movie felt rather lacklustre when it came to these aspects.

All in all, this is a decent attempt at a modern portrayal of Hamlet. It does fall short in certain aspects such as the actual production value and the lack of numerous scenes that were in the original Hamlet. If you have nothing better to do in your free time and you are a big fan of Shakespeare, feel free to take a look at this. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone, however, it does provide something that other adaptions don’t. That is a modern-day take on Hamlet. With all that being said, I’d give this movie a 6/10.… Expand

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AmyJ.

Dec 2, 2008

This film is so poor. It is completely void of anything worth watching.

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Jim

Dec 12, 2008

Shakespeare's Hamlet had psychic balls. Ehtan Hawke has none.

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