Merchant of Venice (The)

 

 

 

Genre: period drama 

With: Al Pacino (Shylock), Jeremy Irons (Antonio), Joseph Fiennes (Bassanio), Lynn Collins (Portia), Zuleikha Robinson (Jessica), Charlie Cox (Lorenzo), Kris Marshall (Gratiano), Heather Goldenhersh (Nerissa), Allan Corduner (Tubal)

Director: Michael Radford

Screenplay: Michael Radford (based on the play by William Shakespeare)

Release: 2004

Studio: Movision, Avenue Pictures et al.

Rating: PG

MBiS score: 8.4/10

 

 

“If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge.”

 

 

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Story-line: in 1596, there is great animosity between Venetian Christians and Jews in general and between Antonio and Shylock in particular. Antonio, a wealthy shipowner, despises Shylock the moneylender while the latter doesn’t take kindly to Antonio’s habit of lending without interest. Their mutual disdain only worsens when a friend of Antonio, Bassanio, needs financing for a risky enterprise and Lorenzo, another friend, feels love for Shylock’s daughter, Jessica.

Pluses: mesmerizing acting by Al Pacino in a pyrotechnic role, worthy performances by Jeremy Irons (as the austere, less conspicuous Antonio), Joseph Fiennes and especially Lynn Collins (whose intonation, dramatic sense and lilting voice make her an ideal Shakespearean actress), a bracing story featuring richly developed characters and dialogues (obviously, with the Bard!), attentive direction that softens the story’s more abrasive elements with touches of comedy, sumptuous production values that lend a distinctive costume and musical theme to each character.

Minuses: some dialogues are quite disparaging to Jews, Christians and Blacks but reflect the socio-cultural context of the times.

Comments: I really don’t know what was Shakespeare’s frame of mind when he wrote The Merchant of Venice but it certainly is a rancorous story. And Michael Radford’s movie version does justice to the play with its full menu of ill-advised dealings, greed, defiance, disguises, romantic intrigue and religious conflict… not to mention that gruesome request for a pound of flesh. To each his own, I guess…  

 

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