Love's Labour's Lost (2000)

An update of the classic Shakespeare story, director Kenneth Branagh shot this movie like a classic 30s musical. Love's Labour's Lost tells the story of four best friends who swear off love.

Director:

Kenneth Branagh

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play), Kenneth Branagh (screenplay)

Stars:

Alessandro Nivola, Alicia Silverstone, Natascha McElhone

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alessandro Nivola	...	The King (Ferdinand)
Alicia Silverstone	...	The Princess
Natascha McElhone	...	Rosaline
Kenneth Branagh	...	Berowne
Carmen Ejogo	...	Maria
Matthew Lillard	...	Longaville
Adrian Lester	...	Dumaine
Emily Mortimer	...	Katherine
Richard Briers	...	Sir Nathaniel
Geraldine McEwan	...	Holofernia
Stefania Rocca	...	Jacquanetta
Jimmy Yuill	...	Constable Dull
Nathan Lane	...	Costard
Timothy Spall	...	Armado
Anthony O'Donnell	...	Moth

Storyline

The King of Navarre and his three companions swear a very public oath to study together and to renounce women for three years. Their honour is immediately put to the test by the arrival of the Princess of France and her three lovely companions. It's love at first sight for all concerned followed by the men's highly entertaining but hopeless efforts to disguise their feelings.

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Plot Keywords:

love | france | princess | oath | friend | 

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Taglines:

Koi wa hito wo baka ni suru [Japan]

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Genres:

Romance | Comedy | Musical

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for sensuality and a brief drug reference

Details

Country:

UK France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 March 2000 (UK)

Also Known As:

Peines d'amour perdues

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$24,496 (USA) (9 June 2000)

Gross:

$284,291 (USA) (7 July 2000)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pathé Pictures International, Intermedia Films, Arts Council of England

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mercade was offered to Stephen Fry.

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Goofs

While the movie's concentrating on what is obviously WW2, one of the paper shown announces the end of the war on November 11, which is in fact the date of the end of WW1 (the end of WW2 being on August 15).

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Quotes

Berowne: Why, all delights are vain; but that most vain, which, with pain purchased, doth inherit pain.

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Connections

References My Fair Lady (1964)

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Soundtracks

"I've Got A Crush On You"
by George and Ira Gershwin
Performed by Alessandro Nivola, Matthew Lillard and Adrian Lester

User Reviews

In anticipation of Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost

And it's a musical, with songs/tunes by Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, with film score, once again, by Patrick Doyle, the wonderful original music composer for the 1993 "Much Ado About Nothing" (which was infectious, easy to comprehend, and sweeps you away by the sheer joyful production and performances led by director Kenneth Branagh, who adapted Shakespeare's poetry for all long before "Shakespeare in Love" became an instant popular success.)

I don't often do this: buying a film's soundtrack before I see the film. The trailers, the Charlie Rose interview with Kenneth Branagh, Alicia Silverstone and Nathan Lane, simply propelled me to pick up a CD copy of the truly infectious music. The excitement of first seeing the poster outside the cinema -- WOW! a musical's coming! The fascination of first seeing the film being introduced among the trailers with intro words: "Stanley Donen and Martin Scorsese present" on screen -- that's already a definite influence on me. I have not seen Donen's name for quite a while, and his name certainly associates with quality musical and wonderful movie experience guaranteed; the same with Scorsese's name -- sounds like a MUST for sure. The music and dance presented in the trailer is exhilarating!

The soundtrack is truly no disappointment: it's irresistible! It brings back memories of the wonderful MGM musicals and the grandness of it all. It's too marvelous for words! Branagh's effort of having the cast singing and dancing along with him reminds me of a similar effort of Woody Allen's 1997 "Everyone Says I Love You", when everyone in the cast danced, and sang (except one) -- here in Love's Labour's Lost, everyone sounded well in tune and professional. It's rare we get to have a musical these days, let alone a superb one. If you like musical, and a bonus if you appreciate Branagh and Doyle's collaborations, get the soundtrack of Love's Labour's Lost and immerse in the melodies and magic of it all. Bewitched you shall: "'heaven. I'm in heaven…" you'll be singing along. Definitely go enjoy Branagh's "Love's Labour's Lost"!