The Merchant of Venice Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)January 7th, 2005
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2005 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): **
Michael Radford's lifeless direction of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE makes for a film that's dry and disappointing. Only in its classic ending act, with the unforgettable and shocking "pound of flesh" scene, does this lackluster production finally live up to its expectations. But the reason this section works so well is mainly because of William Shakespeare's story, not because of this adaptation.
Although, as Shylock, Al Pacino delivers a performance that appears certain to earn him another Oscar nomination, most of the casting proves singularly uninspired. As Antonio, the potential giver of the infamous flesh, Jeremy Irons tries to make a virtue out of so underplaying a role that it almost vanishes. Joseph Fiennes lends his good looks but little else to the part of Bassanio. And Lynn Collins (13 GOING ON 30) and Heather Goldenhersh (SCHOOL OF ROCK), as Portia and Nerissa, prove to be pedestrian Shakespearean actors at best.
Wait for video and watch only the textual introduction -- which is full of fascinating tidbits on the repression of Jews in sixteenth century Venice -- and the last twenty minutes. Skip everything else.
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE runs a long 2:18. It is rated R for "some nudity" and would be acceptable for teenagers.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, January 14, 2005. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Century theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
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Email: Steve.Rhodes@InternetReviews.com
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Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
