Summer of Netflix Day 43 - Much Ado About Nothing

Joel: I am usually very wary about  Shakespeare adaptations, especially ones that are set in modern times while keeping the language the same. It seems like a good idea, but so often I will see a production with so much focus done on how to adapt the setting, there isn’t much focus left for the actual Shakespeare text. Even in a modern setting, Shakespeare sounds strange and alien and if you aren’t paying careful attention to each word then more often than not, it still ends up being extended monologues of near gibberish. But honestly in this case I wasn’t worried and that’s pretty much entirely because of Joss Whedon. Shot on a microbudget it seems as though the modernization of this Shakespeare play was done for convenience rather than as a gimmick. Whedon as well as his cast were clearly very familiar with the text and had taken a great deal of time to decide how to best represent the original text in their film. Like most Shakespeare if you focus on each line, mentally translating it into modern English, it will feel frustrating and you will struggle to enjoy the movie. But this is a case where you can lean back and let the dialogue and the acting wash over you. The cast does an amazing job with the text and it’s a great way to experience Shakespeare as a story, not as a homework assignment.

Chris: I share Joel’s thoughts of misgivings when it comes to watching a movie set in modern times but keeps the original Shakespeare text because either the audience is trying to instantly translate in their minds without falling behind or the acting tries to overcompensate the language and just does too much of everything, leaving the performance to be over-the-top and inappropriately comical. Shakespeare, in general, is better representing on stage because not only do they tend to stick to the appropriate time period (simply for the purposes for the language to match), the script is being performed in the way it was originally intended. However, as great as the Shakespearean text still is, one of the great elements of Joss Whedon’s adaptation is the body language each actor portrays. And it’s not over-the-top or out of place, it’s complementary to the dialogue so that the audience doesn’t necessarily need to understand every single phrase to be able to know exactly what is currently going on in the story.

Alexa: Joss Whedon’s adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing is absolutely delightful, an unexpectedly refreshing take on a Shakespearean classic. The overall aesthetic of the film is fairly understated – the contemporary dress, the black and white palette – but that approach really elevates the actors, placing their skillful delivery of the dialogue front and center. Who knew that Whedon’s stock players are all so adept at Shakespeare? (Hi Captain Reynolds and Simon Tam! What’s up Agent Coulson and Daniel Whitehall?) Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof are particularly enthralling. Whedon filmed Much Ado About Nothing in less than two weeks at his own house, and while those kinds of constraints could easily hinder the movie, everything about it feels very precise and intimate. It was clearly a labor of love for all involved, and the result is an impeccable, immensely entertaining take on a timeless comedy. (Side note: I now want to be friends with Joss Whedon not only because he is awesome, but because I want to hang out in his fabulous house).

Your Viewing Homework for Tomorrow: A Fantastic Fear of Everything.