Much Ado About Nothing (1993 film)



"Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more, Men were deceivers ever, One foot in sea and one on shore, To one thing constant never. Then sigh not so, but let them go, And be you blithe and bonny, Converting all your sounds of woe Into Hey, nonny nonny."

A slightly streamlined, fast-paced and overall excellent adaptation of William Shakespeare's play of the same name, directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh. The all-star cast includes Emma Thompson, Robert Sean Leonard, Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton, Keanu Reeves, Imelda Staunton, Brian Blessed and Kate Beckinsale in her first film role. Beautifully shot on location in Tuscany in a genuine period villa and its lush environs, Branagh's Much Ado -- like his other Shakespeare adaptations -- sacrifices none of the Bard's poetics and wit to the modern audience's unfamiliarity with Elizabethan English. Indeed, it revels in it, the comic dialog whipsawing back and forth with a machinegun rapidity that grabs the viewer and carries him along.

In addition to the tropes of the original play, Branagh's adaptation also includes the following:

""THE WORLD MUST BE PEOPLED!!"
 * Adaptation Distillation: Trimming longer scenes and a bit of reorder as well as removing obsolete words.
 * Color-Coded for Your Convenience: All the good male characters wear uniforms with blue lapels and blue trousers, while the evil male characters have black lapels and black leather pants.
 * Green-Eyed Monster: Other than envy towards his half-brother Don Pedro and towards Claudio being in Don Pedro's favor, it seems that Don John may had or have an interest in Hero, Claudio's love interest, possibly adding to another reason for Don John's attempts to break apart Claudio and Hero.
 * Happy Dance: In celebration of Beatrice's supposed "love" for him, Benedick splashes around in the pond.
 * The great celebration at the end of the film is this for everyone except the bad guys.
 * Insult Backfire: Dogberry seems to take a perverse delight in being called an ass, turning his Berserk Button in the play into this.
 * Large Ham: Michael Keaton as Dogberry. Also, the film does feature Brian Blessed in a minor role.
 * And don't forget Kenneth Branagh! Especially his hilarious monologue about the benefits of marriage, ending with this line:

""YOU! ARE! AN! ASS!""
 * Keanu Reeves practically gnashes his teeth as the "plain-dealing" villain. He even gets a cackling getaway once his plan comes to fruition.
 * Monochrome Casting: Averted with the casting of Denzel Washington. Who plays Keanu Reeves' half-brother.
 * Nobody Here But Us Birds: Benedick eavesdropping on Pedro and Claudio's chat. (It doesn't fool them for a second)
 * The Oner: The tracking shot at the end of the film doesn't add anything to the plot, but it sure is festive. Lasting a good two and a half minutes, the camera zooms between all of the principal characters as they sing and dance, finally ending on an aerial shot of the entire villa.
 * Power Gallop: The Prince's party approaching Leonato's villa on horseback at the beginning of the film.
 * Punctuated! For! Emphasis!:


 * Race Lift: Denzel Washington is cast as the prince. The blatant anachronism is ignored by all and justified by nothing--other than perhaps the Rule of Cool.
 * Shower Scene: The opening credits, which doubles as Ho Yay and/or Les Yay.
 * Walk and Talk: Don John is perpetually on the move, forcing Borachio to hurry behind him while talking.