Much Ado About Nothing

            Filled with light-hearted scenes, Tuscan sunshine, and easy-going banter, Much Ado About Nothing proved to be light and amusing film. Kenneth Branagh directed and acted in Much Ado About Nothing. Branagh’s previous experience with Henry V aided his adaptation of the play. His reinvention of the play has its pros and cons. He adapted the play to appeal to modern audiences. People may argue that the adaptation ruined the film’s Shakespearean roots. However, that argument is baseless because Branagh reinvented it to create a stand-alone movie with brilliant language and excellent word play not an exact replica of the actual play itself. If one would rather watch an exact replica, they should just watch Branagh’s Hamlet.

            In comparison, Branagh’s directing also greatly appealed to modern audiences. The way in which he directed gave the movie high energy and good spirits. Even the movie’s dark plots fail to disrupt the upbeat emotion the film seems to give its audiences.

            Much Ado About Nothing revolves around the love of two couples: Claudio(Robert Leonard) and Hero(Kate Beckinsale), Beatrice (Emma Thompson) and Benedict (Kenneth Branagh). Throughout the entire movie, the couple’s love for each other is tested through dark plots and the extent in which one will do for their love one. Hero and Claudio the stereotypical and “romanticized” version of a couple, while Beatrice and Benedict played the unconventional couple.

The actors and actresses who played these roles were superb. Kate Beckinsale’s precise acting  displayed Hero as a dutiful, innocent, and loving daughter. Robert Leonard’s acting  accurately showed the different sides of a love-stricken man: a vengeful, jealous side and a loving, caring side. However, the most impressive performances in the entire film were Thompson’s and Branagh’s. Thompson brought life to her character. Her acting depicts the image of Beatrice as a strong-willed woman whom has passion, wit, and intellect. Branagh’s acting was authentic and was not forced. His acting also defined his character as a witty bachelor with intellect. Their performances created an interesting and comical duo. The duo’s back and forth diatribes in the beginning of the film added humor to the film. There on-screen chemistry can be attributed to the fact that they have been married for six years.

There were other cast members who also were phenomenal in each of their respective roles in the film. Two actors stood out among the rest of the cast. Michael Keaton played Dogberry, the goofy chief of the citizen police who discovers the plot to slander Hero. Keaton's scenes do not provide comic relief, but they enthrall the audience. Don Pedro, played by Denzel Washington, is a wise, good-hearted prince. Washington is plays a good idealized Shakespearean monarch. He brought to life the sort of character that is usually ignored in films. The cast gave excellent performances.

Much Ado About Nothing had an engaging plot, unique directing, and a wonderful cast of actors wove a memorable Shakespearean film experience.