Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Gary Oldman | ... | Rosencrantz | |
Tim Roth | ... | Guildenstern | |
Richard Dreyfuss | ... | The Player | |
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Livio Badurina | ... | Tragedian |
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Tomislav Maretic | ... | Tragedian |
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Mare Mlacnik | ... | Tragedian |
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Serge Soric | ... | Tragedian (as Srdjan Soric) |
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Mladen Vasary | ... | Tragedian |
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Zeljko Vukmirica | ... | Tragedian |
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Branko Zavrsan | ... | Tragedian |
Joanna Roth | ... | Ophelia | |
Iain Glen | ... | Hamlet | |
Donald Sumpter | ... | Claudius | |
Joanna Miles | ... | Gertrude | |
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Ljubo Zecevic | ... | Osric |
Showing events from the point of view of two minor characters from Hamlet, men who have no control over their destiny, this film examines fate and asks if we can ever really know what's going on? Are answers as important as the questions? Will Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (or Guildenstern and Rosencrantz) manage to discover the source of Hamlet's malaise as requested by the new king? Will the mysterious players who are strolling around the castle reveal the secrets they evidently know? And whose serve is it? Written by Mark Thompson <mrt@oasis.icl.co.uk>
This clever screenplay by Tom Stoppard challenges the viewer to listen and watch closely as the Shakespeare tragedy Hamlet is turned on its ear via taking the perspective of the oblivious rhetorics, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. There are multiple 'plot within plot' twists which intersect and skew at will, sometimes creating a surreal experience for the observer. The script is brilliant, full of double-entendres and mixed reactions executed superbly by Tim Roth and Gary Oldman, along with a solid supporting cast (including American actor Richard Dreyfus). Stoppard felt that the title characters, messengers in the original play, were under represented and so examines their possible perspectives in the tale by way of exploring their destiny and their lack-of-awareness of it. Stunning and hilarious wordplay with excellent repartee between Oldman and Roth. Refreshing and creative spin of the tale of Denmark's 'melancholy prince'.