Much Ado About Nothing

The Actors cont.

Dogberry [Michael Keaton]

Now this really is the weak link, talk about taking a character and running with it - Keaton took Dogberry and ran riot. This Dogberry is obviously related to Keaton's previous character Beetlejuice. Both disgustingly over the top, though the latter was meant to be.

The way Dogberry treated Ben Elton's character (his sidekick Verges) was like something out of a Punch and Judy show. Elton's performance was good in the scene where he was trying to tell Leonato about the prisoners. Then in steps Dogberry shoving his hand in Verges' face. Maybe Keaton felt he was being overshadowed by the British comedian.

Claudio [Robert Sean Leonard]
Hero [Kate Beckingsale]

Is it the character of Claudio that I dislike so much, or is the performance? Whatever he just seems a dead loss. Yes, he's meant to be a callow youth but I did feel the over-reacting was merely over-acting. The "churlish chubby-faced boy" mask his character wears at the revels was certainly fitting.

Fair Hero indeed. Not a weak one. She's certainly smarter than Claudio. Hmm, maybe that and Beckingsale's more natural performance is apt to make us think that she should have left him at the alter!

Other Characters

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Branagh's usual merry band of co-conspirators served him well as usual. Brian Blessed and Richard Briers brining much to their roles in particular. However the casting of Emma Thompson's mother, Phyllida Law, as Ursula always gives me pause for thought. She's a talented actress, so you can't blame him for that, but I just find that Emma and Phyllida always look too alike to play unrelated characters. It was especially noticeable, in my opinion, in the scene where she comes out on the balcony to tell Beatrice that Hero's name has been cleared. It made me think that Beatrice wasn't really an orphan after all! <G>

Well I could probably go on about this film forever, from the "Sigh no more, ladies" opening to the celebratory ending, but I've got to leave us something to talk about on the forum messageboard! There are so many comic and romantic moments worth discussing. So please join us as we make Much Ado About Something!

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- Movie Cat

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