Much Ado About Nothing Details

1993

Rated:
70
from 6776 members

Starring	Kenneth Branagh, Richard Briers, Michael Keaton, Robert Sean Leonard
Director	Kenneth Branagh
Genres	Drama, Romance

Sign up Much Ado About Nothing DVD

Buy From: £4.93

Much Ado About Nothing

When gallant Don Pedro (Denzel Washington), his nefarious brother Don John (Keanu Reeves), and close confidantes Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard) and Benedick (Kenneth Branagh) ride thunderously into the Sicilian village of Messina, romance, gaiety, and suspicion abound. The men have returned safely from a war, and soon everyone in the sun-drenched villa is abuzz with thoughts of love. Claudio, enamored of the purity of the nubile Hero (Kate Beckinsale), entreats Don Pedro to woo the maiden on his behalf that evening at a masked ball. Once he's managed the successful betrothal of Hero to Claudio, Don Pedro has another plot in mind: he plans to trick Hero's bantering cousin Beatrice (Emma Thompson) and sworn bachelor Benedick into acknowledging they've fallen in love. Meanwhile, the villainous Don John, driven by contempt for his compatriots, has hatched a plot of his own: to fool Claudio and Don Pedro into believing Hero is unchaste. The plot works perfectly: sensitive but volatile Claudio denounces her publicly on their wedding day. All seems lost, and soon the attempts to set things right include a formal duel, a scheming friar, a mock memorial and a gaggle of bumbling constables. With its excellent cast and beautiful Tuscan backdrop, director Kenneth Branagh's film is a light-hearted adaptation of yet another of Shakespeare's great plays.

Starring	Kenneth Branagh, Richard Briers, Michael Keaton, Robert Sean Leonard, Keanu Reeves, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Ben Elton
Director	Kenneth Branagh
Studio	ENTERTAINMENT IN VIDEO
Run time	DVD: 1 hr 46 mins
Certificate
Genres	Drama, Romance
Language	DVD: English
Released	DVD: 21 May 1999 Production year: 1993
Format	DVD

Critics' reviews (6) of Much Ado About Nothing
View all
A real luvvies outing, as the then married Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson decamp to Tuscany with pals to film an exciting, joyful and rollicking version of William Shakespeare's tale of frenetic wooing. Branagh, who stars and directs, gives the story an enormous joie de vivre and is aided by a star-studded supporting cast that includes Thompson's mother Phyllida Law, Imelda Staunton, Ben Elton, Keanu Reeves and Denzel Washington.
- Radio Times
- Posted 29 Jan 2006
A lively version of Shakespeare's witty romantic comedy, but suffering from some miscasting, plodding direction and rather too much forced jollity to be entirely successful.
- Halliwell's Film Guide
- Posted 02 Mar 2006
Most helpful member's review of Much Ado About Nothing
View all
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful

I never realised Shakespeare could be so much fun!

This film is fantastic! It's got an absoutely wonderful cast, the scenery is beautiful and the story's got everything. Even if you think Shakespeare isn't your cup of tea, please give this a try. I actually went to see it at the cinema without having a clue what it was about - I'm ashamed to admit I didn't even realise it was Shakespeare - I'd just seen an article in a magazine about Robert Sean Leonard and thought he looked cute - but within minutes I'd grasped the language and was completely entralled. Fifteen years later and it's still one of my favourites. I've yet to meet anyone who dislikes this film - even my partner thoroughly enjoyed it and he would usually steer well clear of anything that could be described as a period drama.
- - A customer from Guildford
  - Posted 18 Mar 2005 12:53
Most recent members' review of Much Ado About Nothing
View all
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful

Something for Everyone

A stellar cast, from both home and abroad, some fine Spanish scenery and one of Shakespeare's best plays made accessible. You can have loads of fun playing spot the actor (that's whatsisname from whatsit) and if the beaty of the landscapes and cinematography isn't enough, the beauty of the language should do it for you. I've seen this play acted on stage in it's original format and it can be quite hard to follow. What Brannagh has done with his adaptation is not just the usual 'change it to modern language' to get people to understand it, although there is a degree of that. He seems to have encouraged the actors to maximise the use of expression and gesture to get across the point as well as having the lines often delivered in an exaggerated fashion in order to increase their impact. This may not sound like the makings of a watchable film, but believe me - it works.

With laughs, saucy nudity, Shakespeare's trademark intrigue and a good old tug on your heart strings and there really is something for everyone.
- - unbreakable from Leeds
  - Posted 09 Aug 2005 23:02
News and features
View all
Emma Thompson: Top of the Class
- 03 Jun 2009
Thank heavens for Emma Thompson! The House of Lords may fall. Our MPs may act like lemmings, and poor old Susan Boyle is surely the British cultural icon we deserve… but as this week’s cinema release Last Chance Harvey proves, Emma Thompson prevails, a comforting reminder of Empire and order, a Britain where quality, common sense and self-deprecating wit trump tabloid fame and sleaze. She would demur, I’m sure, but Thompson is your mum’s idea of what a British film star Read more
More like this
View all
Showing 1 to 4 of 20

[+] [-]
Previous
A Walk In The Clouds

Sign up

Buy

Postcards From The Edge

Sign up

Buy

Win A Date With Tad Hamilton!

Sign up

Buy

The Way We Live Now

Sign up

Buy
Next