The Tempest

PLOT:

Prospera, the duchess of Milan, is usurped by her brother Antonio and is cast off on a raft to die with her four-year-old daughter Miranda. They survive, finding themselves stranded on an island where the beast Caliban is the sole inhabitant. Prospera enslaves Caliban and claims the island. After 12 years, Alonso, the king of Naples, sails back to his kingdom from the marriage of his daughter to the prince of Tunisia, accompanied by his son Ferdinand and Antonio. Prospera, apprehending her chance for revenge, causes a tempest, wrecking the ship and stranding those on board on her island.

REVIEW:

Years ago, someone decided to do a somewhat futuristic version of Romeo & Juliet starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The interesting thing about it was that they actually used Shakespeare’s actual dialogue. Given the scope and tone of that picture, it made for quite the confusing picture, but still, it was interesting to see the two worlds, if you will, come together.

Along comes along The Tempest, a film that also uses Shakespeare’s words. This film, though, is not set in any weird future, but rather the original setting of the play. That being  said, there are some changes, such as the character of Prospero now being a female role and name changed to Prospera.

I don’t really know much about this play, but I love Helen Mirren, so if you’re asking why in tarnation I even bothered with this, that is why.

First thing that needs to be mentioned are the special effects and makeup. When you’re dealing with a woman who can control the weather as well as her spirit slave, or whatever he was, then you have to make sure they don’t look homemade, if you will.

I can’t comment on the plot and story because, quite frankly, this is taken directly from Shakespeare’s work, so to do so would belittle the great Bard’s work. That isn’t to say that everything he wrote was a masterpiece, of course.

Now, about the cast. Helen Mirren is infallible as Prospera, and brigs a refined civility to this film that we all know her for.

In a surprise appearance, Russell Brand is in a drama. Of course, he’s playing a court jester, so it really isn’t a stretch for him, and of curse he does his schtick. Basically, if you love or hate him in anything else he’s done, then that is exactly how you’ll feel about him here.

Alfred Molina, as great as he is, is…well, I dunno. On one hand, I feel that he was wasted in this role, but on the other hand, I don’t see anyone else pulling it off. Molina is one of those few actors alive today who cam seamlessly star in one picture, and then be a supporting actor the next and be just as great in both.

Djimon Hounsou does pretty good as Caliban, but I wasn’t really impressed.

Yes, I have very few words about The Tempest, but there really isn’t much to say. That being said, something about this film seemed off. At times, it seems like an acid trip. It is no wonder this director is also the woman who made that Spider-Man musical a flop. She has vision, yes, but not the skill to pull it off. Furthermore, the pacing of the film sort of took me out of it. Now, that may be a part of my 21st century brain, as opposed to one that was around during the Bard’s time. So, do I recommend this? Yes, a little, but I wouldn’t necessarily rush out to see it.

3 out of 5 stars