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Post by mikemk on Dec 9, 2004 8:04:21 GMT
OK I know it's not exactly low culture, but anyway....
This is a very clever and modern look at a very difficult play, despite being set in a very authentic looking Venice of 1596.
Al Pacino is outstanding and gives a superbly moving performance as the humilliated and persecuted Jew who demands his pound of flesh. Jeremy Irons is also brilliant, and is probably the only character who understands Shylock's motivation.
The settings are sumptuous, the casting is (largely) very good British actors who cope well with the Shakespearean language (although Gratiano is just a bit over the top).
It even has a bit of gratuitous gaying in it - Antonio is obviously besotted with his friend, but this does work - it actually gives a very sensible reason for his loan of the money in the first place.
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Post by lowculture.co.uk on Dec 9, 2004 8:48:16 GMT
OK I know it's not exactly low culture, but anyway.... It even has a bit of gratuitous gaying in it. Err.. hello? If it's got gaying, it's low culture.
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Post by mikemk on Dec 9, 2004 9:04:07 GMT
Very true, especially the kiss between Jeremy Irons and Joseph Fiennes. My sort of low culture.
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Post by Cherubic on Dec 9, 2004 17:52:41 GMT
It makes it so hard to be right on and liberal when a film has anti-semitism and gaying.
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Post by Rabbit on Dec 13, 2004 11:08:35 GMT
Is Kris Matshall (My Family guy) in it for long/any good?
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Post by mikemk on Dec 14, 2004 7:22:49 GMT
Kris Marshall is Gratiano and I thought he was crap, actually, and really struggled with the words. He's in a few scenes.
The anti-semitism of the play (if it exists - it is likely Shakespeare started off reflecting the prejudices of the day but ended up creating an interesting, more human character than just a Jewish stereotype) has been all but eliminated, in no small part due to Pacino's playing of the role.
Mind you, it is easy to feel sympathy for Shylock until you realise that his plea for tolerance and understanding ("If we prick us, do we not bleed?") is actually a defence of his actions which would lead to Antonio's death.
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