A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)

Director:

Michael Hoffman

Writers (WGA):

William Shakespeare (based on the play by)
Michael Hoffman (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 May 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

Hold on to Your Heart. Cupid is Armed and Dangerous.

Plot:

Lovers lives are complicated by city law, feuding faerie royalty, and... love.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Lover | Fairy | Bicycle | Fickleness

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Kevin Kline	...	Nick Bottom
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Titania
Rupert Everett	...	Oberon
Stanley Tucci	...	Puck
Calista Flockhart	...	Helena
Anna Friel	...	Hermia
Christian Bale	...	Demetrius
Dominic West	...	Lysander
David Strathairn	...	Theseus
Sophie Marceau	...	Hippolyta
Roger Rees	...	Peter Quince
Max Wright	...	Robin Starveling
Gregory Jbara	...	Snug
Bill Irwin	...	Tom Snout
Sam Rockwell	...	Francis Flute

Also Known As:

Sogno di una notte di mezza estate (Italy)
William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream (USA) (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content.

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

Italy | UK | USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Canadian Home Video rating) | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 (bw) | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:PG | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 (Approved No. 36060)

Filming Locations:

Caprarola, Viterbo, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

Take a look at what some of the other performers are rehearsing while the Mechanicals are waiting for word from the Duke. One group of players is rehearsing the Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex and another pair of players are rehearsing a scene from Shakespeare's play Othello.

Goofs:

Continuity: The branches that Lysander and Demetrius fight with are swapped later in the fight.

Quotes:

Titania: Come, my lord, and in our flight / Tell me how it came this night / That I sleeping here was found / With these mortals on the ground.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Game K N B: (2006-11-29)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Casta diva

One Movie Buff's Opinion

I have seen criticism of this movie saying that the language should have been changed to our post-modern English instead of being the original late-middle/early modern English that Shakespeare used. But those who say that miss the point that what makes these plays so magnificent IS the language that Shakespeare used, and to change it would be to ruin the movie.

Anyways, the acting is marvelous, as it should be from such a cast as this. Michelle Pfeiffer plays the part of Titania with the utmost perfection. Kevin Kline as Nick Bottom is equally as good, and the two end up having a chemistry that is unmistakable (even if he is an ass at this point).

The directing is also great - almost as good as the acting, if not as good. Costumes, sets, everything with exception of there being headlights on the bicycles, is perfect. Michael Hoffman truly pulled of a great feat with this movie, and I would recommend it to anyone.

Also, on a side note, if you have trouble understanding the language, though it be English, watch the DVD and turn on the subtext.