Rent Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1990)

3.4 of 5 from 106 ratings
1h 53min
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Synopsis:
Tom Stoppard's ingenious comedy twist on Shakespeare's Hamlet sees the focus of attention switch to two minor characters, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Gary Oldman and Tim Roth). A comic double act with a routine based on verbal rather than physical sparring, they stumble blindly through the action, desperately trying to make sence of it as they go, completely unaware of the fate that is in store for them.
Actors:
, , , , Tomislav Maretic, Mare Mlacnik, , Mladen Vasary, , , , , , , , , , ,
Directors:
Producers:
Tom Stoppard, Michael Brandman, Emanuel Azenberg
Writers:
Tom Stoppard
Studio:
Second Sight
Genres:
Comedy, Drama
Collections:
10 Films to Watch if You Like All Is True, A Few More Screen Princes, Award Winners, Films to Watch If You Like..., Lions on the Lido, A Brief History of Film..., Top 10 Films By Year, Top 10 Tennis Films, Top Films, Top Films of 1990: Vol. 2
Awards:

1990 Venice Film Festival Golden Lion

BBFC:
Release Date:
24/03/2003
Run Time:
113 minutes
Languages:
English LPCM Stereo
Subtitles:
None
DVD Regions:
Region 0 (All)
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.78:1 / 16:9
Colour:
Colour

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Reviews (6) of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

Hamlet Dies At The End - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead review by Count Otto Black

Spoiler Alert
16/03/2015

It's best to know the story of "Hamlet" before you watch this film, since if you don't, you may be confused by the fact that, this being a reimagining of "Hamlet" from the perspectives of two minor characters, the main characters from Shakespeare's play only interact with our two anti-heroes in the few scenes in which they're part of the official version of the play, and since they're not present to witness most of the important events that motivate everyone else, we don't see them either.

On the plus side, if you like intellectual comedy, this is funny in a very clever way, though not exactly laugh-out-loud hilarious, and a young not-yet-A-list Gary Oldman is great fun as the smarter of the pair (even they can't always remember which is which), and makes you wish he'd made more comedies. The somewhat forbidding Tim Roth, however, seems a rather odd bit of casting.

Unfortunately, there are too many scenes that feel exactly like a stage-play made into a film, probably because that's what this is. And letting the author of the play direct the film - it's the only movie Tom Stoppard has directed - wasn't such a great idea, since Stoppard seems to have little grasp of cinematic technique. He doesn't properly appreciate that, while audiences will accept very basic scenery on stage, in a film, it helps if you can really believe that you're in a castle or on a ship. It's a pity the proposed movie directed by John Boorman fell through - I'd love to have seen this done in the style of "Excalibur"!

The basic premise of fictional characters gradually becoming more and more aware that they're helpless to control their destiny, and what's more, there's something badly wrong with reality, is interesting, but visual aspects of this that ought to work very well on film, such as their inability to comprehend scene-changes that suddenly place them in a new location, are handled in an oddly unvisual and rather flat way. Ultimately this is little more than a play with a camera pointed at it. However, it's a very good play if you like that sort of thing. And Gary Oldman's excellent.

3 out of 3 members found this review helpful.

Not for me - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead review by 'Mandy.C'

Spoiler Alert
03/08/2006

I am afraid I switched off half way through I couldn't follow it at all, I don't know the Hamlet story and I guess it may be easier to watch if you know Hamlet

2 out of 3 members found this review helpful.

Word Games - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead review by Cherry

Spoiler Alert
01/02/2007

Very entertaining and amusing if you are the sort of person that likes word games and Shakespeare. I don't know Hamlet and think I may have missed a few things, but still found it a very original film.

1 out of 2 members found this review helpful.

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