nicolasroop

Ya know, it's rare I see a movie that confuses me, tear me apart and puts it all back together again in the end, but Chloé Zhao has done just that with Hamnet.

It's also rare for me to call a movie transformative. I honestly cannot think of another word for the film. It transcends it's story to become relatable and poignant. It makes you think about your life, in a way. Zhao could not have picked a better book and subject to adapt, likewise they could not have asked for a better writer/director for the job.

The story, about William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes, is a deeply moving portrait of loss and understanding. If you've ever felt this kind of pain in your life, this movie might actually help. The burden for the living to have to carry on after such a tragedy is depicted with such realism, it was hard to watch at time without tears flowing. It was beautifully told.

Now, I'll say why the film had confused me a bit til the ending. Zhao directs the film with an intensity that is rather offputting. The score is deep and brooding, even in moments you'd suspect to be light and happy. It lends a hand at making you feel the impending doom the couple have awaiting them. But even in that feeling that is created, there is a sensitivity the actors convey that is felt throughout. Brilliant acting from our leads, Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley. The latter of which easily deserves an Oscar for this performance. It is the best acting performance I have seen all year, male or female. Just incredible.

Overall, this is in my top three best films of this year. I could not recommend it enough. However, be aware that this is a very sad film and deals rather heavy handedly in the death of a child and the grief that follows. I know that is not everyone's cup of tea, but, if you do see it, stick with it til the end. It's beautiful and makes it all worth it.

4.5 players out of 5.

I genuinely wanted to like this film. It had so much going for it in the first hour and the stellar acting from the cast, up to the arthouse way the story was being told. Then something happens halfway through the movie and I completely lost interest. Instead of being an inspiring story of character's coping with their differences and trauma, we got a parade of pretentious actions and selfish viewpoints. But the worst thing about it all was the pacing. The last half of this film is slower than molasses. I mean I was begging for it to end, and it seemed to go on forever.

Overall, I couldn't recommend it. I have no clue how this film is holding a solid 8 on here but it's closer to a 6 or a 5, maybe a 7 if you actually enjoyed it. Really sucks because everything was great except for the writing, and the pacing was almost torture through for half of the film and it never picks back up again, even in the end. Definitely an in-the-comfort-of-your-own-home type of watch. Definitely did not need to watch this in theaters.

2.5 pretentious daughters out of 5.

Wicked should have been only one film. The two halves of the story compliment each other in a way that did not connect here, which I believe was due to the fact the studio wouldn't let us have a 4 hour film. This sequel, which acts as the finale to the story, fell completely flat as a result. Aside from some good singing and some glorious set and costume design, this didn't offer much more than the first half did. In fact, I think it offered substantially less. Now I know the stage play is similar and the story is practically the same, but it feels like there's something missing. Something that made the first half of the story feel fresh and ready to be told. It just feels like they were holding back.

Now normally, I write longer reviews and go into the acting, cinematography, all that jazz. But seeing how incredibly similar this film is to it's predecessor, considering it's a literal part two with the same cast and crew, I don't see a reason for going into all that stuff as nothing has changed. It's all the same design we saw in the first film. Nothing more and maybe a little less. A shame because this finale should have exploded, but the studio played it safe and we got what we got.

Overall, I won't say it's a bad film. There is a lot of creative genius going on behind the scenes here. It's just a shame they wasted all the money on the first half and phoned it in for this last part. I will also say, the film should have been only one film. Things could have been cut without consequence to the story as the important parts of their telling, according to the book, never make it to the screen. One such instance is the unbelievable romance that was completely shoehorned in. The wicked witch did not need a lover. It does nothing for the story and easily added 30-40 minutes of runtime to this film. If they would've cut that out and maybe a few more tidbits, this could have been one movie.

2.5 wicked witches out of 5.