S. Ashley 2008-04-09

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

This is a film that I went to see at the cinema on a whim. I liked Kenneth Brannagh's earlier films, especially Much Ado About Nothing, and had a couple of hours to kill.

I came out of the cinema feeling fantastically uplifted.

Why can't I get this film on DVD??????

Pandatrousers 2007-10-12

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

This came towards the end of a long line of luvvie 'comedies' from the UK, and I recall attending a screening at the time where people were openly disgusted by this self-congratulatory piece of rot. Kenneth Brannagh has made some really good films, but this ain't one of them. I also recall Barry Norman at the time stating that he knew people might dismiss this as a luvvie's day out. That did happen, and with very good reason.

Avoid. Avoid. Avoid.

2003-02-16

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

I can't believe I had never come across this before. I've just seen it and I think it is great. In fact I think it has become one of my favourite films - definitely one of those hidden little gems than seem to appear as if from nowhere, that's for sure.
Everything about this film is surprisingly brilliant (but only surprising because although I wasn't expecting it to be bad, I wasn't expecting it to be this good either!) The ensemble cast shine - there isn't a stand-out performance among them. They're all great. Branagh's inspired decision to shoot the film in such a way - simple, with no showy camera angles, in black and white - certainly comes up trumps, producing the feeling that the film itself, as well as the production it portrays, is cheap and amateurish (I assure you that it most certainly is not!). But most of all, like any great film, the script is just wonderful, packed with witty repartee between the characters and great one-liners. It is a wonderful little comedy, very funny, but it also has that little hint of drama which all comedies need in order to be even funnier, and with a great cast it works beautifully.
I am of the opinion that this is a minor masterpiece. At the very least I find it amusing that this - a film about unemployed actors struggling to put on a performance of Hamlet - is acually far better than the epic, star-studded, word-for-word, and ultimately dull and insipid film adaptation of the play itself that Branagh brought out shortly after, starring some of the actors on show here!
You simply have to see this one, trust me.

2002-12-14

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

fantastic film. If you've ever been involved with live theatre then this is brilliant. The auditions are ... well real, and the 'why am I doing this' moments during the production 'week'(really day) are extremely accurate.

The actors represent most of the archetypes of actos I've worked with and this made it excruciating in places.

Humorous with a good dash of pathos

2002-08-14

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

Written and Directed by Kenneth Branagh, this is the tale of an out of work actor who decides to bring work to him by staging his own production of Hamlet in his home village and at the same time save a delapadated church which is to be the make shift theatre. This is a brilliant little tale with great performances from the all-star cast (many of whom can be recognised from "Kenneth Branaghs Hamlet"). The direction is also wonderful, shot in black and white and with a great amature feeling, yet professional quality. This is a must for fans of Sheakspeare, British cinema or amature Dramatics!