I’ve always hated Shakespeare with a passion. Why watch a play if you can’t understand what the characters are saying? Hamnet changed that for good. Not only is the movie sure to be nominated in every major Oscar category, it might just bring about the Shakespeare revival we didn’t know we needed.
Writer/Director Chloé Zhao wisely eschews the traditional biopic treatment, choosing instead to focus on William Shakespeare’s family life. Specifically a tragedy that may have been the inspiration for his play Hamlet. We’re so engrossed by the characters (led by career best performances from Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley) that we forget we’re even watching a movie about Shakespeare until the final act. It’s that very humanity that gives his art a newfound relevance.
Join Jon and Tim as they discuss how to pronounce Pirates of the Caribbean, the Quentin Tarantino/Paul Dano controversy, the communal theater experience, Tim’s application to be Santa, silence in an age of noise, Paul Mescal’s unique take on the character, Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair, college roommate stories, the pain of losing a child, Jon’s New Year’s Resolution, Jessie Buckley’s performance of the year, sharing grief with strangers, and the enduring power of Shakespeare’s art.
