If high school English or Shakespeare in Love has taught us anything, it’s that women were denied the right to act on stage back in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. But payback, my friends, is a bitch—specifically Helen Mirren’s Prospera, the main, traditionally male character (named Prospero) in the latest film adaptation of The Tempest, which is considered to be the playwright’s last solo work.
Director Julie Taymor (Across the Universe, Frida) is at the helm of this trippy reboot, which also stars Alfred Molina, Chris Cooper, David Strathairn and Russell Brand at the jester Trinculo. And those are just some of the players in this character-filled story. Considering my high school English is failing me (Sorry, Mrs. Dobromilska!), I think I’m going to need my CliffsNotes to follow this one. Check out the trailer for the film, out Dec. 10, below:
What do you guys think of this 2010 rendering? Would you go see it? And if so, how art thou Shakespearean English?
Helen and Russell together in the same film makes me sad. And they are in the remake of Arthur? Sadder.
So I’m guessing you saw it? How was it?! I’m dying to know what you really thought of his full performance in the film. Do tell!
I’ve been waiting for this trailer for months! I’m so excited.
I’m still trying to find the Shakespeare in this adaptation of Shakespeare’s play. It seems more of a trailer about “Hey let’s show off cool effects” then at all about the story.
No idea what was going on, but seemed interesting. Great cast.
Finally, a movie for me to look forward to with excitement.
I see Alan Cumming! and Djimon Hounsou as Caliban? Hmm. It may be worth renting at least.
I’ve been waiting for this movie for years. I can’t wait to see it.
If Helen Mirren did it, it has value!
I was fortunate to actually see this at the New York Film Festival. The visuals are insane and you’ll fall in love with Ben Wishaw.
Russell Brand just plays himself. Be prepared for that
But was it COHESIVE? Across the Universe had such great promise & characters & music & visual interest but UTTERLY fell apart. Did this potentially great director SUCCEED here?!? As an Eng major & major Shakes fan, I wanna know! Do tell…
There is a great adaptation of “The Tempest” called Prospero’s Books with Sir John Guilgood (misspelled, sorry) Be aware there is a lot of nudity / frontal nudity of women & men – but the visual impact is enticing
I’ve seen & pretty much loathed 3 of Taymor’s films but based only on the trailer ( and with the living goddess Helen Mirren !Brilliant casting ! ) she just may hit it out of the park with this one . Again , Helen Mirren as “Prospera ” ; brilliant ! As a lifelong Shakespearean fan I haven’t been this excited to see a film since I can’t remember when . High hopes ; we’ll see .
What was wrong with “Titus”
I dunno.
I would drink Helen Mirren’s dirty bathwater but this movie has gotten mixed reviews at best. And this trailer doesn’t help. As a previous poster pointed out, Russell Brand just seems to be playing himself and Djimon Hounsou seems to be overacting like a fury.
I think I might wait for this one to go to DVD.
I dunno. Julie Taymor + Shakespeare = mixed feelings for me.
Helen and Ben were fantastic. It was visually strong, but not terribly moving, even though the resolution worked really well. My issue was how Dijmon was reduced to being a dirty, rotting, bafoonish powerless monster. Taymor is not really known for progressive representations of race, but I would give it a second look.
Who is Russell Brand supposed to be?