All the world's a stage
I went to see Branagh's film of As You Like It earlier on today. It's well acted, well directed, entertaining ... but bizarrely set in late 19th century Japan. Since the text continues to mention and feature the Forest of Arden, the Japanese aspects seem a bit peculiar. I'd been looking forward to seeing Adrian Lester as Oliver de Boys (I love him in Branagh's Love's Labours Lost) but he was actually outshone by David Oyelowo who plays his brother Orlando. I'd not seen him in anything before and was completely bowled over by his acting. Not only does he have the most expressive face, able to convey his love for Rosalind in a single muscle, but he also has a wonderful facility for speaking Shakespeare and making it live. Apparently he was Henry VI at the RSC in 2001; I'm very sorry I didn't see that production.
Many of Branagh's usual suspects were in the film: Brian Blessed, Richard Briers, Richard Clifford, Patrick Doyle, Gerard Horan, etc. Doyle's music was, as usual, lush, and as in Much Ado, he plays the person who sings and therefore appears on screen. Branagh himself can be spotted in the epilogue.
Romola Garai's Celia was better in court; Bryce Dallas Howard's Rosalind only came into her own in the forest.
The ending sequence seems consciously to echo the famous ending dance of Much Ado. As You Like It doesn't have the same appeal as Much Ado, where the verbal sparring of Beatrice and Benedick provides such entertainment. However this film is an enjoyable couple of hours.
Many of Branagh's usual suspects were in the film: Brian Blessed, Richard Briers, Richard Clifford, Patrick Doyle, Gerard Horan, etc. Doyle's music was, as usual, lush, and as in Much Ado, he plays the person who sings and therefore appears on screen. Branagh himself can be spotted in the epilogue.
Romola Garai's Celia was better in court; Bryce Dallas Howard's Rosalind only came into her own in the forest.
The ending sequence seems consciously to echo the famous ending dance of Much Ado. As You Like It doesn't have the same appeal as Much Ado, where the verbal sparring of Beatrice and Benedick provides such entertainment. However this film is an enjoyable couple of hours.