IMDb > The Merchant of Venice (2004)
The Merchant of Venice
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Merchant of Venice (2004) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 36 | slideshow) Videos (see all 8)
The Merchant of Venice (2004) -- 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.
The Merchant of Venice (2004) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   12,715 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 30% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
William Shakespeare (play)
Michael Radford (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Merchant of Venice on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
3 December 2004 (UK) more
Genre:
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
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 5 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(23 articles)
Shooting of Subotica's 'La Mula' Suspended
 (From IFTN. 3 November 2009, 11:29 PM, PST)

'Assassin's Creed 2' Achievements/Trophies Revealed
 (From MTV Multiplayer. 26 October 2009, 7:59 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Beautiful, shocking, and above all, honest more (140 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Il mercante di Venezia (Italy)
William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (USA) (complete title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for some nudity.
Runtime:
138 min | Finland:134 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Dustin Hoffman was interested in playing Shylock; however, when he contacted director Michael Radford about it, Al Pacino had already been cast. more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: When Basanio and his entourage are walking with Portia to inspect the chests they pass a pond with a black swan. Black swans are from Australia and weren't known to Europe until after their discovery in western Australia by Dutch explorers in 1697. The Merchant of Venice takes place more than 100 years earlier. more
Quotes:
Salerio: Why, I am sure, if he forfeit thou wilt not take his flesh: what's that good for?
Shylock: To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge.
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Song for Bassanio more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
123 out of 135 people found the following comment useful.
Beautiful, shocking, and above all, honest, 5 December 2004
9/10
Author: obsessed-2 from nyc

Michael Radford has done an excellent job bringing this difficult play to the screen. He has taken a play with a reputation for anti-semitism, and shown us that Shakespeare knew quite well the humanity of the Jews. Radford said after the screening, and I agree, that Shylock is his first tragic hero, the first of his characters to be undone by a driving, compulsive need for revenge. He also points out, quite rightly, that a man who was anti-semitic could not have written Shylock's speech of "If you prick me, do i not bleed?" Radford is himself of Jewish descent and he has picked out the good and bad of all characters with delicacy and honesty. no character is free from flaws; no character is evil. Radford has placed the play in the 16th century, which gives a lush background of Venetian politics and decadence on which to project Shakespeare's words.

If you get a chance to hear Radford speak about the film, I highly recommend you take it, since he gives details about life in 16th century Venice that illuminate a lot of the choices he made and give considerable extra depth to the viewing. I'm hoping that the DVD will come out with extensive commentary.

Jeremy Irons does a gorgeous portrayal of Antonio, a man who resigns himself to bearing the burden of his past misdeeds. Lynn Collins, a relative unknown, gives us an absolutely flawless, stunning, and detailed job as Portia. Not only is Ms. Collins beautiful - she also gives Portia layers of intelligence and humor prior to the trial scene i've rarely seen in any production of this play. the rest of the cast also does a terrific job, with a notable performance by Kris Marshall as Gratiano, and a beautifully subtle work by Allan Corduner as Tubal, playing the foil to Shylock. Finally, while Al Pacino pulls out his usual strong (and loud) performance, his best moments are when the camera focuses on him and he says no words, but you can see all the emotions and madnesses flowing into and out of him as he perceives his fortunes changing.

If you like period movies, I cannot recommend this movie enough.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (140 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Merchant of Venice (2004)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
im one of those mshyde
The Tragedy of Shylock sfoxly
Soundtrack ladyknight_silver
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Bloom The Believer My Own Private Idaho The Libertine Borstal Boy
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.