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The Merchant of Venice (2004)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
3 December 2004 (UK)
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Plot:
In 16th century Venice, when a merchant must default on a large loan from an abused Jewish moneylender for a friend with romantic ambitions, the bitterly vengeful creditor demands a gruesome payment instead. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.
Another 1 win
&
5 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(25 articles)
Pacino Set For New York Stage
(From WENN. 7 December 2009, 5:31 PM, PST)
Walken Heading Back To Broadway
(From WENN. 30 November 2009, 5:36 PM, PST)
(From WENN. 7 December 2009, 5:31 PM, PST)
Walken Heading Back To Broadway
(From WENN. 30 November 2009, 5:36 PM, PST)
User Comments:
When a director doesn't understand the script.
more (141 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Al Pacino | ... | Shylock | |
| Jeremy Irons | ... | Antonio | |
| Joseph Fiennes | ... | Bassanio | |
| Lynn Collins | ... | Portia | |
| Zuleikha Robinson | ... | Jessica | |
| Kris Marshall | ... | Gratiano | |
| Charlie Cox | ... | Lorenzo | |
| Heather Goldenhersh | ... | Nerissa | |
| Mackenzie Crook | ... | Launcelot Gobbo | |
| John Sessions | ... | Salerio | |
| Gregor Fisher | ... | Solanio | |
| Ron Cook | ... | Old Gobbo | |
| Allan Corduner | ... | Tubal | |
| Anton Rodgers | ... | The Duke | |
| David Harewood | ... | Prince of Morocco |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Il mercante di Venezia (Italy)
William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (USA) (complete title)
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William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (USA) (complete title)
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MPAA:
Rated R for some nudity.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
138 min | Finland:134 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Argentina:13 |
Canada:PG (Ontario) |
Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) |
Mexico:B |
Iceland:12 |
South Korea:12 |
Peru:14 |
Brazil:14 |
Australia:M |
Canada:G (Quebec) |
Finland:K-7 |
Germany:12 |
Hong Kong:IIB |
Ireland:12 |
Singapore:NC-16 |
Sweden:7 |
Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) |
UK:PG |
USA:R
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Cate Blanchett was set to play Portia, but had to drop out at the last minute after discovering she was pregnant.
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Goofs:
Continuity: Portia is wearing a different outfit when she goes to meet Bassanio for the first from what she was wearing when her servant announces that Bassanio is arriving.
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Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Featured in 'Merchant of Venice': Shakespeare Through the Lens (2005) (V)
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Soundtrack:
Bridal Ballad
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (141 total)
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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Merchant of Venice (2004)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
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| im one of those | mshyde |
| The Tragedy of Shylock | sfoxly |
| Soundtrack | ladyknight_silver |
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Watching this movie and then listening to the commentary, it's clear that Michael Radford doesn't understand this play. The first clue that he fails to fully grasp the work is that he takes pains to set the film in seventeenth-century Venice. Which sounds truly odd, yes, that misunderstanding the film would mean trying to make it as accurate to its location as possible. But anyone who's studied Shakespeare knows that, while he set most of his plays in exotic locals, the culture and values are always contemporary England. This doesn't hurt the film, but it displays a lack of necessary knowledge.
Where Radford kills the film is in making it so dead serious. He manages to suck every joke out of the script, leaving the whole production flat. Every ounce of passion is beaten out of the characters. Even Shylock's 'Do we not bleed' speech is a mild, awkward ranting from a choleric who seems to only be saying and doing what he does because he's supposed to. The lovers are solemn and far too restrained (Joseph Fiennes delivers some of the most romantic lines in the cinema this year in a barely audible whisper), Gratiano (who has to promise to behave at one point) is more sober and collected than Bassiano (who makes him promise to behave), Jessica is reluctant to leave her father and spends her life with Lorenzo pouting.
In the commentary for the bland and watered-down court scene, the director voices his shock that an audience laughed at Portia's 'A pound of flesh, no more, no less' sentence; ultimately concluding that it had to tension release laughter. 'The Merchant of Venice' is a comedy and Radford scoffs at the idea that the most absurd and hysterical portions of the story are anything but the most daringly provocative drama.
The film has no intelligible focus, yet cuts out some of the most entertaining scenes. The characters are forced into high drama veils, so they come out sounding like Ibsen characters reading Victorian poetry. And the comedic ending, where all of the good guys go to bed happy, is drowned in a dignified despair that feels like they're finding stiff- upper-lip peace with impending death, rather than reconciling with lovers. Even Lancelot and Antonio exit the film holding their hats like aristocratic mourners.
The film is poorly done because the creative powers that be don't understand the script. It is stern where it should hysterical. It is reserved where it should be passionate. It is Michael Radford where it should be William Shakespeare.