As You Like It (2006)

A daughter of the powerful Duke must show her courage and inventiveness to be with the man she loves.

Director:

Kenneth Branagh

Writers:

Kenneth Branagh (adaptation), William Shakespeare (play)

Stars:

Takuya Shimada, Brian Blessed, Richard Clifford

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Takuya Shimada	...	Geisha
Brian Blessed	...	Duke Senior / Duke Frederick
Richard Clifford	...	Le Beau
Bryce Dallas Howard	...	Rosalind
Patrick Doyle	...	Amiens
Romola Garai	...	Celia
Adrian Lester	...	Oliver De Boys
Alfred Molina	...	Touchstone
Kevin Kline	...	Jaques
Janet McTeer	...	Audrey
Gerard Horan	...	Denis
David Oyelowo	...	Orlando De Boys
Richard Briers	...	Adam
Nobuyuki Takano	...	Charles
Paul Chan	...	William

Storyline

Rosalind, the daughter of Duke Senior (the banished Duke), is raised at the court of Duke Frederick (who is younger brother to Duke Senior and took over his Dukedom), with her cousin Celia (daughter to Duke Frederick). She falls in love with a young man named Orlando, but before she can even think twice about it, she is banished by Duke Frederick, who threatens death if she comes near the court again. Celia, being Rosalind's best friend, goes with Rosalind (who is disguised as a boy, Ganymede) and Touchstone, the court's fool, to the forest of Arden. Upon their arrival in the forest, they happen upon Orlando and his manservant, who are fleeing the wrath of Orlando's eldest brother. What follows is an elaborate scheme devised by the cross-dressing Rosalind to find out the verity of Orlando's supposed passion for her, and to further capture his heart, through the witty and mischievous façade of Ganymede.

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Plot Keywords:

forest | cross dressing | lion | shakespeare play | reference to william shakespeare | 

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Taglines:

Romance...or something like it.

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Genres:

Drama | Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for violence and some sexual material

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the ninth and final film directed by Kenneth Branagh in which Richard Briers stars. The others are Henry V (1989), Peter's Friends (1992), Swan Song (1992), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), A Midwinter's Tale (1995), Hamlet (1996) and Love's Labour's Lost (2000).

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Quotes

Corin: And how like you this shepherd's life, master Touchstone?
Touchstone: Truly, shepherd... in respect of itself, it is a good life. But in respect that it is a shepherd's life, it is naught. In respect that it is solitary, I like it very well. But in respect that it is private, it is a very vile life. Now, in respect that it is in the fields, it pleaseth me well. But in respect it is not in the court, it is tedious. Hast any philosophy in thee, shepherd?
Corin: No more but that I know the more one sickens, the worse ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The picture seems to end without the play's Epilogue. Then, the closing credits begin, when they are suddenly interrupted by Bryce Dallas Howard, still in character as Rosalind, who then is seen speaking the Epilogue as she begins to walk to her trailer, drinking a cup of coffee along the way. After the speech, Kenneth Branagh can be heard offscreen saying "Aaaand...cut!" After this, the closing credits resume.

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Alternate Versions

An Italian print of the film features the dialogue in English, with none of the actors dubbed, and no English-language subtitles; however, the credits for this version are printed in Italian as if they were the original credits to the film.

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Connections

Featured in Brows Held High: Shakespeare, Film, and Kenneth Branagh: A Retrospective (2011)

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Soundtracks

Blow, Blow
Composed by Patrick Doyle
Lyrics by William Shakespeare
Performed by Patrick Doyle and London Symphony Orchestra

User Reviews

A Review? Simple. It's absolutely Beautiful!!

This movie is beautiful! That's right. That's my whole review.There are stylised Komonos and rich 1890-ish Western costumes. A palette of amazing reds, maroons and rose colors set against a magical green forest with ancient towering trees and exotic oriental marshes. The romantic comedy element is all about being in love; being giddy with all consuming love. The Shakespearean words are edited short and crisp and are delivered naturalistically and effortlessly by the likes of Kevin Kline and Brian Blessed. Of the leads, David Oyelowo stands out as a very masculine and handsome leading man and Bryce Dallas Howard (an American) more than holds her own with the mostly British cast. Perhaps due to Branagh's pruning of the tesxt, I also found listening to, and understanding As You Like It just as effortless as the actors' delivery. I'm not an English teacher nor an Elizabethean scholar and this movie spoke to me, taking me on a wonderful escape. (NOTE: make sure to watch all the way through the credits.) It is obvious that Kenneth Branagh puts his whole soul into his movies. Thank you, Kenneth!

Details

Official Sites:

HBO [United States]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 September 2007 (UK)

Also Known As:

Comme il vous plaira

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$563,162

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, HBO Films, Shakespeare Film Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1