Discussions of Shakespeare lately had me thinking of the Bard’s works produced as movies and sent me to Netflix in search of one. Love’s Labour’s Lost is a film from 2000, based on the early Shakespearean comedy of the same name. Kenneth Branagh produced, directed, and starred in the movie.
The first task of any film based on a work of Shakespeare is to deliver the dialogue in a way that’s both true to the Bard and understandable to a modern audience. This film delivers – even American actress Alicia Silverstone manages to bring the clever wordplay to life somehow. Others in the cast are superb in communicating the depth and humor of Shakespeare’s brilliant use of language.
As if that weren’t challenging enough, Branagh has added song and dance numbers to the story, like an old-fashioned musical. In fact, the movie is almost an homage to the works of Fred Astaire, Esther Williams (there’s even a choreographed swimming pool scene!), and others of the pre-1950s Hollywood musical era. I like the songs but they interrupt the unfolding of the story a bit awkwardly at times and the dancing is not amazing enough to really justify itself in the film.
The movie’s twisting plot and witty commentary on human foibles are thoroughly engaging. I like the ambition of the concept of the movie, the cast is strong (Nathan Lane, in particular, simply steals every scene he’s in), and though it’s a bit uneven at times the strength of Shakespeare’s genius and side-splitting sense of humor are enough for me to recommend the film.
