Rent All Is True (2018)

Shakespeare With Writer's Block? - All Is True review by BG

Kenneth Branagh has acted in many of Shakespeare's plays, now he gets to play the bard himself, looking a bit like Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull. I liked the way it didn't focus on his play writing, and showed the tortured side of a man who has retired back home, mourning his dead son and discovering a shocking truth. Written by Ben Elton, who Branagh directed in Much Ado About Nothing, there is some wit but not a lot of comedy. Applaud the bard when he finally hurls abuse at a man who has always snubbed him. There's some nice imagery - - the bard walking in slow motion amongst autumn leaves blowing - - but probably fans of Fast and Furious will not go for it.

Not Upstart Crow - All Is True review by Pete W

Perhaps some reviewers saw that this film was scripted by Ben Elton and expected a feature length edition of Upstart Crow. That is indeed a very enjoyable comedy but this is a different beast. Taking what little we know about Shakespeare’s life, the film shows Will at the end of his life having retired from playwriting dealing with the earlier death of his son and some inappropriate behaviour for the time from his daughters.  The film really benefits from having such Shakespearean luminaries as Branagh, Dench and (briefly) Mckellan in the lead roles, bringing their understanding of Shakespeare and his plays. An enlightening interview with Branagh and other extras explain a lot about the film and its production. Special mention to make up for making Branagh almost unrecognisable as Will.

Dull Dull Dull and Dull - All Is True review by AL

Good grief, I didn't last long and had to forward on to the end. But for the brief time lasted, I found it so slow and Dull, just aweful. I loved Upstart Crow and can't believe thanks written by the same person. Very disappointed.

Great film - All Is True review by SA

This was a beautifully made film, atmospheric and elegiac.  The acting was superb, and this ending part of Shakespeare's life was most moving.  Ben Elton writes a great script and really knows how to turn life with few facts into a fictional delight of great interest. It was slow and gentle, but this in no way detracted from its quiet power. Thank you Kenneth Branagh.

Disappointing - All Is True review by LA

A wonderful cast wasted, and one of the film's themes, the creation of a garden was a huge disappointment - could they not actually have created a beautiful Shakespearean garden instead of showing endless pointless shots of him digging?

Big Snore - All Is True review by HM

Well apparently Skakie had nothing better to do than cope with his femenist female empowerment daugther; a likely story eh? Ben Elton wrote the story so you needn't be suprised. And Judie Dench is his 'wife older than him', you are not kidding she is positively geriatric. Unconvinsing relationship.

So what is it all about? Well, we don't know much about him after retirement so why not make up some daft tale using his name to keep the English actors guild busy (Branagh an honury Englishman). His biographers refer to him 'likely' to have done this and that and managed his financial affairs etc. This story ignores his actual preoccupations as they are dull, and there is no reference to his collaberations with budding playwrites.

No idea why anybody should be interested in this waffle frankly. A sort of soap opera version which could run for a series 'the family squabbles of Skhakepeare' perhaps.

A Branagh vanity project - All Is True review by DK

I am a fan of Branagh and his acting is always superb (in this, too) but this is a pretty ropy film. What on earth is doing with that stupid garden? I reckon that he and Ben Elton were drunk when they conceived of this film. Next!