O Kenneth Where Art Thou?
Dear Kenneth Branagh,
Do
you know how it is to see a movie that hits you like a ton of bricks and
changes your life? Well, of course you do.
Your
Henry V did that to me. The first time I saw it I was only as vaguely
aware of Shakespeare as most people are and I had some trouble following it,
but understanding it all proved to be secondary to the impact the film had on
me. My days as a Shakespeare freak were
about to begin.
You
don't get quite all of the credit – I was studying English literature at the
Stockholm University at the time and good professors helped, but Henry V started making everything fall
into place. Your Much Ado About Nothing didn't hurt – who could resist
falling for your Benedick and Emma Thompson's Beatrice? Not I.
And
then I saw your Hamlet and I was a goner. It's probably the best movie ever made; it's
certainly my all-time favorite.
In
other words I was hooked and your Love's Labour's Lost and As You
Like It only deepened my addiction; your excellently evil Iago only
made it worse. Or better, or whatever.
And
then.
No
more Shakespeare.
Yes,
everything else you've done is more or less brilliant too. I loved Frankenstein. The Magic Flute made me like opera (at
least while watching this one). Your Sleuth was even better than the
1960's version and that has always been one of my Top Ten or so. Your
Wallander does Sweden and Mankell proud. You were the perfect Gilderoy
Lockhart. Et cetera, et cetera.
But
what happened to Shakespeare? You have
more than thirty more plays left to film! Aren't you longing to do the
other biggies? Lear, Prospero, Macbeth? You and Emma Thompson (you're still
friends, aren't you?) would do a spectacular murderous couple! You could do so much with King John – the
first Shakespeare play put on film, by the way, doesn’t that tempt you? Measure for Measure has always been one
I'd like to see, as long as it's not made romantic and lovey-dovey at the
end. You could do great things with Timon
of Athens. Or The Winter's Tale.
Or – well, you know which plays you haven't filmed yet.
Julie
Taymor has made excellent Shakespeare films. Baz Luhrman did a fantastic
R&J. Al Pacino made a masterpiece. But they’re not…you.
So
Dear-Kenneth-Branagh-Making-Shakespeare-Movies, you are sorely missed. I can't
begin to thank you enough for everything you've done so far but Shakespeare
freaks are never satisfied. The world needs you! It's time for a new wave of Shakespeare
movies and nobody can do it like you.
Please
come back!
With best and hopeful regards,
Ruby Jand
Shakespeare blogger
