Much Ado About Nothing (1984)

Good start, but then it gets ruined

Best movie ever!

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

I concur with the predominantly favorable assessments of this production that have already been posted. Robert Lindsay and Cherie Lunghi are both excellent, and Katharine Levy is likewise outstanding in the role of Hero. Robert Reynolds (presumably intentionally) makes clear how repellent Claudio is, as he delivers a fine performance in that difficult role. Jon Finch emphasizes the silly and decadent dimension of the role of Don Pedro, in a capable performance that could have been enriched with a bit more gravitas. Michael Elphick is far, far better -- far, far funnier -- in the role of Dogberry than was Michael Keaton in Kenneth Branagh's cinematic version of the play.My only complaint relates to Graham Crowden in the role of Friar Francis. He conveys the impression of not having memorized his part very well; his intonation in his recitation of some of his key lines is decidedly odd.

I heard about this version several years ago but never got a chance to see it until recently. It has been raining here steadily for the past three weeks and this film made the day seem inexplicably sunny. Wow! What a wonderful cast and what fabulous direction! At every turn, I found myself understanding a phrase or word that I had hitherto (how articulate, young neophyte!) not understood.Robert Lindsay and Cherie Lunghi are simply wonderful. The chapel scene is simply breath-taking. When Benedick professes his love for Beatrice, I swear my heart skips. And then we are treated to her response - Ms. Lunghi speaks volumes with her delivery of "Ah!". I also think Mr. Lindsay does a great job with his "bird's nest" speech to the Duke.Katharine Levy does a particularly good job with the (usually) boring part of Hero. There was wonderful chemistry between her Hero and Lunghi's Beatrice. It made Beatrice's despair in the chapel scene so much more believable.The entire piece from start to finish is flawless. I loved all the little things happening between characters in the background - a bump here, a nudge there. I find something new each time (and it has been several now) that I watch it.Great job! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I really enjoyed the Kenneth Branagh version of "Much Ado About Nothing" and I was sorry to miss the recent RSC production, so I thought I would have a look at this one and see another take on one of Shakespeare's more popular comedies.Robert Lindsay certainly has the wit, panache and energy to make a really good Benedick and he's matched by the beautiful and sparkling Cherie Lunghie as Beatrice. Katherine Levy certainly makes the most of Hero, turning in a very strong and forthright portrayal of what is an underwritten and rather weak character. Jon Finch plays Don Pedro as an arrogant lord who enjoys his scheming and gossiping. It is a good portrayal, but I missed the compassion of Denzel Washington in the same role.Micheal Elphick certainly makes a plausible and by-and-large comprehensible Dogberry, though I thought he could have done more with the character's malapropisms to get more humour out of the character.This version uses much more of the original text than the popular movie, so the pace is somewhat slower, and now and again the period setting looks a little bit tacky.That said, lovers of Shakespearean comedy should find little wrong with this.

Lunghi and Lindsay are the savory core of this handsomely done comedy. They make it divinely clear that conflicts of the heart far outweigh a mere war of wit and word. Beatrice and Benedick open before our eyes with beauteous ambivalence. At first brittle and glib and tightly closed, they are drawn together by conspiratory deceit, which acts only to release the truth of their emotional vulnerability and allow them to find what they dared not wish for; the perfect mate. A very thoughtful and nuanced version of the play.