Comments on: Worst Possible Hamlet http://killthisblog.com/2008/07/30/worst-possible-hamlet/ Earth's ONLY website. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:00:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Jerry Thomas http://killthisblog.com/2008/07/30/worst-possible-hamlet/#comment-195 Jerry Thomas Fri, 01 Aug 2008 03:14:08 +0000 http://killthisblog.com/?p=64#comment-195 Branagh's Hamlet has a lot going for it. First, it's the entire text of the play. While most stagings cut out a lot of the play to keep the running time within the range of human stamina, Branagh's is the whole thing. It's also got a lot of cameos, including Jack Lemmon and Robin Williams. I'm not a huge Robin Williams fan, but he has a lot of fun with his part (Osric), and it's hard not to enjoy his sense of glee in refereeing the sword fight. It came out on DVD about a year ago, and I've been meaning to get it, but still haven't gotten around to it... Branagh’s Hamlet has a lot going for it. First, it’s the entire text of the play. While most stagings cut out a lot of the play to keep the running time within the range of human stamina, Branagh’s is the whole thing. It’s also got a lot of cameos, including Jack Lemmon and Robin Williams. I’m not a huge Robin Williams fan, but he has a lot of fun with his part (Osric), and it’s hard not to enjoy his sense of glee in refereeing the sword fight. It came out on DVD about a year ago, and I’ve been meaning to get it, but still haven’t gotten around to it…

]]> By: Random Kath http://killthisblog.com/2008/07/30/worst-possible-hamlet/#comment-193 Random Kath Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:26:36 +0000 http://killthisblog.com/?p=64#comment-193 I had been thinking of Wallace Shawn as he was in "Princess Bride," which would be a bit of a wacky choice, matching the Anti-Ophelia. I have a feeling Billy Crystal probably played his part straight in the Branagh version, which would negate the wacky factor that I would hoping for . . . I had been thinking of Wallace Shawn as he was in “Princess Bride,” which would be a bit of a wacky choice, matching the Anti-Ophelia. I have a feeling Billy Crystal probably played his part straight in the Branagh version, which would negate the wacky factor that I would hoping for . . .

]]> By: Jerry Thomas http://killthisblog.com/2008/07/30/worst-possible-hamlet/#comment-192 Jerry Thomas Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:46:35 +0000 http://killthisblog.com/?p=64#comment-192 I'm thinking of this as an experiment in bad casting. I think Wallace Shawn (not a bad actor) would be an insufferable Hamlet, but now you got me thinking that somebody else could be even worser. Ray Romano, say. Or Chuck Norris. Courtney Love strikes me as the Anti-Ophelia, but she might be fun to watch in a train-wreck kind of way. And if you'd pay money to see Billy Crystal as the gravedigger, you're in luck! He had that role in Branagh's Hamlet, now available on DVD! (This is where I'm supposed to put my affiliate link to Amazon, but I'm too lazy to try to monetize today.) I’m thinking of this as an experiment in bad casting. I think Wallace Shawn (not a bad actor) would be an insufferable Hamlet, but now you got me thinking that somebody else could be even worser. Ray Romano, say. Or Chuck Norris.

Courtney Love strikes me as the Anti-Ophelia, but she might be fun to watch in a train-wreck kind of way. And if you’d pay money to see Billy Crystal as the gravedigger, you’re in luck! He had that role in Branagh’s Hamlet, now available on DVD! (This is where I’m supposed to put my affiliate link to Amazon, but I’m too lazy to try to monetize today.)

]]> By: Random Kath http://killthisblog.com/2008/07/30/worst-possible-hamlet/#comment-191 Random Kath Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:45:15 +0000 http://killthisblog.com/?p=64#comment-191 You know, some of your choices might actually work in a real production. I mean, Courtney Love as Ophelia (if, you know, half sober), Wallace Shawn as Hamlet, and Billy Crystal as the gravedigger - that might be something I would pay to see . . . You know, some of your choices might actually work in a real production. I mean, Courtney Love as Ophelia (if, you know, half sober), Wallace Shawn as Hamlet, and Billy Crystal as the gravedigger - that might be something I would pay to see . . .

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