A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

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 | Obsession | Mischievousness

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: Near the end of the film, right after the players have been "Notably Discharged," there is a shot where Bottom kisses Flute on the forehead, and Quince rubs his head and brings his face down next to Flute's. If you watch closely, the next shot is the exact same moment, just shown from a different angle, so where it would seem like one sequence of events, we are actually seeing the same thing twice.

Quotes:

Bottom the Weaver: Hark! I see a voice!

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Brindisi

Charming Fairy Dust

Though some critics have dumped on this film, I was charmed by it. The movie literally sparkles. The settings are full of rich colors and magical lighting. The romantic classical music is all well chosen to help induce the hypnotic or dreamlike qualities. And the cast is an utter delight.

This is a fluffy cloud of fairy dust -- just as Shakespeare intended.