Othello
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Movie Reviews of Othello
Movie Review: Look to your wife
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a dark version of a dark play. Not just in feel and drama, but in setting. I believe only a scene or two is filmed in the daylight. The bulk of this film takes place in the dank cellars, the dark of night and the closed bedrooms where intrigue and guile rule the day.This is an unusual Shakespeare adaptation, in that nothing funky is being done with it. There is no twist in the time setting, no song and dance, no Italian wonderment. It is about as straight of an adaptation as I have seen. Being this, it lacks any distinction or special genius, but it is quite an able piece of film.
Laurence Fishburn is a great Othello, delivering the lines and slipping under Iago's silver spell. He lacks a certain aura of strength generally associated with Othello, but is otherwise excellent. Kenneth Branagh is a superior Iago, and this may be one of the best performances he has given. He plays an excellent villain, and his performance is the one bright flare in the the film. The dialog is well done, staying with Branagh's conversational style. The rest of the cast are all capable players, easily recognizable from the Shakespeare on film stable.
All in all, I really enjoy this film. It is not a work of genius. It is not amazing. But it is an excellent, workman like filmed version of a difficult play and a worthy edition to any Shakespeare on film collection.
Movie Review: Branagh Shines
Summary: 4 Stars
Kenneth Branagh was amazing in Henry V, playing a beloved and heroic character. He delighted as the witty, comical Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing. How could this same man play one of the most diabolical characters every written in the English language? Just look at the guy, he's a pleasant, fair-haired man. Branagh astonished me with the ease with which he plays a duplicitous, conniving villain. Playing off his nice guy image, the audience hates him all the more when he as Iago plays the nice guy, while secretly hatching evil schemes. In the asides, where he reveals his true dark nature to the audience alone, he is positively chilling.
Mr. Fishbourne is solid, but overpowered by Branagh. Fishbourne is far more convincing than previous actors playing Othello. His commanding presence and body of violent films help us see him as a war-weary General. In fairness, Iago almost always outshines Othello as a character - - unless the character playing Othello also directs (see Orson Welles, Olivier).
The look of the film is rich. The music and moods are well controlled. The supporting actors all do superb jobs in their roles.
The film is very true to Shakespeare's work, although there are a few cuts. In sum, this is an excellent rendition of an old classic. Branagh makes this movie an excellent purchase.
Movie Review: Beautiful production
Summary: 4 Stars
The staging set the scene well, dark and moody for the dark conspiracy that underlies the plot. Fishburne excels in the role of Othello. I'm sure that future actors in that role will be judged by how well they stand up to Fishburne's portrayal and his skill in making the words come to life. If the rest of the cast had risen to his level, this could have been one of the best ever.
I did not see Branagh's Iago in the same class as Fishburne's Othello, though. The role calls for a smiling traitor, lying to Othello's face and scheming behind his back. Instead, this Iago looks more like a grinning dolt. Irène Jacob's Desdemona lacked passion, as well. Oh, she was passionate enough around the marriage bed, that was fine. She just never projected a convincing emotionality, even under threat of death.
This really is an outstanding production, and maybe I should have given it five stars. So much in it was so good, however, that the flaws seemed especially disappointing.
//wiredweird
Movie Review: Oh Iago Iago Iago
Summary: 4 Stars
Laurence Fishburne turns in an effective performance as Othello, and Irene Jacob's Desdemona is as beautiful as she is vulnerable. But the true star of this screen adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy is undoubtedly Kenneth Branagh's delightfully wicked and memorable Iago. While some uninitiated viewers may find the Shakespearean English hard to comprehend (having the English caption turned on will help immensely), Branagh's crystal-clear delivery and performance will leave little room for confusion about what Iago is up to, and that makes for an extremely enjoyable movie-watching experience.The fact that the DVD is a bit too bare-bones (there is only the theatrical trailer, nothing else) keeps me from giving it a full 5-star rating. I would have loved to hear some commentaries from the actors (especially Fishburne and Branagh). Nevertheless, this movie should be on the to-watch list of everybody who has even a modicum of interest in Shakespeare.
Movie Review: Brannagh as a great Iago
Summary: 4 Stars
I've watched 3 other filmed Othellos (see my other reviews) and I liked Brannagh the best as Iago. Fishburne's Othello is enjoyable yet somehow affected, Desdemona can't really figure out how to pronounce english let alone speak elizabethan/jacobean prose, but Brannagh is great! I watched this film and Olivier's with my roommate who is NOT an english major/afficianado and she could understand him -- go figure. Brannagh does what he does best and he isn't anything other than himself playing Iago but he is still quite enjoyable. Fishburne hasn't trained classically but still does a decent job (and he's HOT). The only contention I have is that Parker sacrificed content for brevity,sliced and diced with the lines, gave some speeches to other characters, and relied on the sexual scenes a little much for my tastes. C'mon, look at the cover! I think it's a great starter Othello to give you the overview of the story, though.