William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (1999)
William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (1999)
William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as Helena
as Nick Bottom
as Oberon
as Titania
as Demetrius
as Lysander
as Hermia
as Theseus
as Puck
as Hippolyta
as Peter Quince
as Egeus
as Tom Snout
as Francis Flute
as Philostrate
as Robin Starveling
as Snug
as Hard-Eye Fairy
as Bottom's Wife
as Cobweb
as Mustardseed
as Moth
as Peaseblossom
as Master Antonio
as Dangerous Boy
as Dangerous Boy
as Changeling Boy
Critic Reviews for William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
All Critics (78) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (26) | DVD (4)
I remain skeptical about the ability of even the best American actors to read Shakespeare's lines without giving the impression that they are enduring very painful cultural root canal work.
Injecting the film with fun and pathos, Kline makes a superb Bottom; it's his play and he acts it to the hilt.
If there is sacrilege afoot, I'm not enough of a scholar to spot it.
The film is never a chore to watch, but others have done better by the Bard.
Unfortunately, despite the wonderful locations, sets, costumes, and strong acting, this adaptation has a strange lack of magic or chemistry between players.
Hoffman charts a middle course, and travels it quite well -- his version is neither as elaborately baroque as Max Reinhardt's 1935 film treatment nor as starkly sexual as Peter Brooks's celebrated 1970 staging.
Audience Reviews for William Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
Not highbrow -- just weird.
Super Reviewer
As a rule, I dont like to watch any William Shakespeare adaptations until I have read the play first. Having just finished reading this classic comedy/love story, I was eager to see it on screen like I am of any of the screen adaptations of his wonderful works. This however, isn't as good as the great master deserves. While preparing for the wedding of Duke Theseus (David Strathairn) to Hippolyta (Sophie Marceau) a group of actors including Bottom the Weaver (Kevin Kline) rehearse an amature play for the forthcoming betrothal while forbidden lovers Hermia (Anna Friel) and Lysander (Dominic West) run away together, pursued by Demetrius (Christian Bale) and Helena (Calista Flockhart). Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, Faerie King Oberon (Rupert Everett) wants to get at his wife Queen Titania (Michelle Pfeiffer). He dispatches malicious 'sprite' Puck (Stanley Tucci) on a mission to humiliate his Queen. En route Puck can't resist messing with the mortals lost in the woods also, ensuring all sorts of confusion. Director Michael Hoffman's take transports us from ancient Greece to late-19th-century Italy (complete with newly invented bicycles) and I have to say, it works. The sets and costumes are absolutely stunning, drawing you into the magical and mystical land of the faeries. He addresses it with the same playful tone that Kenneth Branagh captured for his adaptation of "Much Ado About Nothing" and also like that, uses the same mix of both American and British actors who are perfectly suited to their roles. It's a lush and extravagant production, infused with Shakespeare's humour but something doesn't quite click. The mock Pyramus play at end is way overlong and almost grinds the film to halt. The only positive is that this is when the underused Sam Rockwell gets a chance to contribute something, but by then it's too little too late. As David Strathairn's 'Theseus' says around this time "No epilogue I pray you..." if only he'd said this 15 mins earlier, we could have had a satisfying ending. It's classic Shakespeare that, shockingly, hasn't had a decent adaptation yet. This is the best so far, but for fans of the great playwrite only. It captures the look but doesn't quite capture the heart.
Super Reviewer
A great take on a Shakespeare classic. Full review later.
Super Reviewer
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