Tweekums Twins Viola and Sebastian look very similar so much so that they enjoy trying to trick people as to which is which aboard the ship in which they are sailing. After the ship is wrecked it appears that Sebastian has died but Viola is amongst the survivors. She decides that it would be safest if she were to disguise herself as a boy, take the name Cesario and gets a job serving as a page to Duke Orsino. She soon starts to develop feelings for her but can't give voice to them. Things get a little more awkward for her when Orsino requires her go to the nearby Countess Olivia to tell her of his love. She isn't interested in him but is rather taken by 'Cesario'! If that weren't enough others are trying to persuade Olivia's steward, the rather bumptious Malvolio, that she has feelings for him. When it emerges that Sebastian is in fact still alive things get even more confused as he looks and is dressed just like 'Cesario'!This is the first version of this Shakespeare comedy that I've seen so can't say how it compares to other adaptions. The story is delightfully over the top with confusions. I liked the late Victorian/Edwardian setting and fine Cornish locations. The way the story is adapted, with short scenes and numerous locations, makes it feel more cinematic than theatrical.The cast is impressive; while no viewer is likely to confuse Imogen Stubbs and Steven Mackintosh as 'Cesario' and Sebastian they do look similar enough and the former, with the help of shortened hair and a false moustache, does have a slightly boyish look. The rest of the cast were impressive too; notably Helena Bonham Carter as Olivia; Nigel Hawthorne as Malvolio; Ben Kingsley as Feste, the fool; Mel Smith as drunken Sir Toby Belch and Richard E. Grant as Sir Andrew Aguecheek. The comedy is a little silly but that is the joy of it; one might have though the things that people found funny four hundred years ago would raise a laugh these days but I found myself laughing out loud several times. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to anybody wanting a good romantic comedy even if you con't consider yourself a fan of Shakespeare.

Dan A lively, bubbly production of one of Shakespeare's more difficult plays. It's hard to know just what Shakespeare was getting at with this story. The text doesn't always seem to make sense. That's reflected in this, as well as any other, production. At times, one wonders what the expressions on characters' faces are meant to indicate. Just after Feste has fooled Malvolio with his imitation of the curate, for instance, Maria has a perturbed look on her face. As if the joke that she herself so elaborately designed now troubles her. There's nothing in the text to indicate that her expression should show remorse; and yet Sir Toby soon after says that he's sick of the whole thing. Why? That's one example of the difficulty of the text (which may have been corrupted over the centuries), and how it is manifested in this particular production's choices. I don't know why Sir Toby remarks at this point that he's sick of the joke, nor do I know whether Maria should share his feelings.Another difficulty is the role of Feste. Ben Kingsley fills this role, and because Ben Kingsley is a major star, he magnifies this character (in my opinion) out of all proportion. He becomes a sort of Zen master, pompous and oppressive. His jokes aren't funny (maybe we can't find Shakespeare's jokes funny today, but Kingsley's heavy delivery precludes humor), and his last confrontation with Malvolio comes off as a sort of thundering divine retribution. The entire play, the entire cast, stops dead and Feste takes over as if the whole point of the play has been his apotheosis at the expense of the degraded Malvolio. This surely cannot be what Shakespeare had in mind. Throughout the play he has a disconcerting habit of staring at other characters or the camera with what almost be described as a leer.Maybe Shakespeare would have sighed and commiserated with the producer of this film, because the clowns in his day were also big stars who demanded a lot of meat in their roles. The trouble is that there just isn't much meat in Feste's role according to the text, so we're stuck with leers and thundering retribution and other inventions. Shakespeare had to accommodate his clowns with ever-more important roles, climaxing with characters like Touchstone and Lear's fool. Kingsley is just inventing his own character. At times his work is interesting, but his weight in the production is, as I said, oppressive.Still, his screen time is relatively small, and much of the rest of the play is a joy, even if the point of the story isn't always clear. Bonham-Carter was never more alluring, Hawthorne is priceless as Malvolio (he was born for the role), and Smith and Grant are the perfect combination of Belch and Aguecheek. I suppose you might object that all four of them put their eyebrows to such prodigious use that their acting might be characterized as hamming. But I don't see how any of these characters can be played straight if the play is to work.One thing is for sure, no one would ever accuse this production of bogging down. The pace is lively, the sets and the cinematography are always striking, the score is invigorating, and I suspect that I could watch this film dubbed in Swahili and it would still be a lot of fun. Visually arresting is perhaps the best description.

silverduckday This film is absolutely awesome, I recommend everyone see it! The plot is fascinating and fast paced, it really keeps you guessing what's going to happen next. It's about two very similar twins, Viola and Sebsatian, who are caught in a ship wreck and each believe the other dead. Viola, for protection, dresses up as a boy and goes to work for a powerful Duke (a very dashing Toby Stephens). When the Duke sends his new "male" servant to woo his love, Lady Olivia (the glamorous Helena Bonham Carter), all sorts of chaos reigns, especially when Viola's now identically looking twin brother arrives!!The actors give it their all and make the complicated Shakespearian language much easier to follow. The scenery is the breathtakingly beautiful Cornish coast and the overall feel of the play is one that has been made with great care, yet never tires or becomes bogged down with the complicated language. I had no idea of the story before watching, but found this no obstacle, unlike many other Shakespeare film adaptions. I've never been much of a Shakespeare fan and have only read it when made to in school! After watching this film, however, I have been reading the play itself and have really enjoyed studying the original Shakespeare! There are so many different ideas and themes in the original play, all of which are brought effortlessly to life in the screen! The film also treads well the fine line the play expresses between tragedy and comedy.A brilliant treat of a film that is genuinely funny, heart warming and addicting! One of my all time favourite films I can't seem to stop watching!!!

jpwtaylor Trevor Nunn's adaptation of one of Shakespeare's best comedies rates as one of the finest. He has assembled a superb cast including the excellent Ben Kingsley,outstanding Nigel Hawthorne and Imelda Staunton who plays the stern maid Maria with relish. Hawthorne in particular steals the show with his portrayal of Malvolio the uptight servant who is deceived by Maria, Sir Toby (Mel Smith)and Sir Andrew (Richard E Grant). Grant is perfect for the role of Sir Andrew through his physical appearance and general demeanour on screen portraying the deluded Knight. All the cast fit their roles well and all take their characters on a journey throughout the film.The fictitious Ilyria is divine as are all the locations used in this film with much emphasis being put on the landscape. In terms of plot, this film keeps all the major strands from the romantic plots to the comic plots and the plots of mistaken identity. Despite the film being an edited version of the play, viewers can fully understand the play as a whole having watched this film.If you crave for a decent Shakespearean adaptation then look no further than this offering from Trevor Nunn.