Before The Viewing: Thoughts, Feeling, and Notes
Picking Much Ado About Nothing (I really mean "Noting") was a no-brainer for me. I get to watch a sassy Beatrice and a stubborn Benedict fall hard for each other while everyone smiles behind their hands because they had some part in it? Sign me up! I am especially interested in this modern 2012 version that I am about to view. It received a 84% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and, seeing as Rotten Tomatoes is a very reliable source for the quality of entertainment, must be very good. I have high hopes for this film. Let's see if it live up to my exceedingly high expectations.
After The Viewing: Thoughts, Feelings, and Notes
In a word, splendid. I will be honest in saying that I had my doubts when I quickly learned that it was a black and white film, immediately after that, I knew that it would not be anything I had expected. There are many interesting components to this film, so much so that it would take awhile to touch on them all. However, I will do the best that I can and while I will try to cover a significant amount of information, there will be four things that will speak of in length: the musical attribute to the film, Conrad as a character within in the film, Don Jon as a villain, and the fall of Hero.
The music was beautiful and, especially in the beginning, piqued my interest immediately. The opening scene is a memory of Beatrice and Benedick. We see Benedick leaving Beatrice in a bed alone, in an apparently one night stand. The music begins with one lone note, then another, and then the rest of the song follows. Joss Whedon, director and music producer, really knew what he was doing when he scored that song and made it the opening title song. He knew just what would bring the audience in, even though there was no dialogue as of yet. Whedon even organized music for the two song that were already in the play "Sigh No More" and "Heavily". Below is the song "Sigh No More", which in the movie was the song accompanying the party scene. The music scoring in this film, in my opinion was well done, because while it did tell the story properly, it also added to the modernness of the film.
The music was beautiful and, especially in the beginning, piqued my interest immediately. The opening scene is a memory of Beatrice and Benedick. We see Benedick leaving Beatrice in a bed alone, in an apparently one night stand. The music begins with one lone note, then another, and then the rest of the song follows. Joss Whedon, director and music producer, really knew what he was doing when he scored that song and made it the opening title song. He knew just what would bring the audience in, even though there was no dialogue as of yet. Whedon even organized music for the two song that were already in the play "Sigh No More" and "Heavily". Below is the song "Sigh No More", which in the movie was the song accompanying the party scene. The music scoring in this film, in my opinion was well done, because while it did tell the story properly, it also added to the modernness of the film.
Conrad, or should I really say Conrade, was an interesting view that Whedon portrayed within the film. In this film, Conrade is a female, who is romatically involved with Don John. Joss Whedon stated to Entertainment Weekly that he liked the idea of "the only actual stable relationship in the movie is between the villains", which when I looked back it, was ENTIRELY TRUE! Conrade being a female aloud Don John to not only have an accomplice, but a lover as well. In the film, you can see that the relationship between Don John and Conrade is a completely stable one. There is no constant doubting, like between Claudio and Hero, nor any constant bickering, like that of Benedick and Beatrice. It is smooth and without any dysfunction. Which is highly ironic, seeing as it is the bad guys who get the good relationship.
Which leads me to my next point: Don John as a villain. Now please do not misunderstand me. I do not believe that Don John is a bad villain. He just happens to be one out of circumstance. Also, he may be "evil", but he does not have many great plans. Has anyone ever noticed that? The greatest plan to ruin Claudio's and Hero's relationship did not come from Don Jon, but from Borachio. The plan that ruins the wedding, Borachio. The plan that "kills" Hero, Borachio. Borachio is the under-appreciated brain in this relationship. Don John is just a pretty face to look at (although I must admit that Borachio in this film is quite the looker)! Even Conrade is looking at him (although in this picture she looks like she wants to eat him or something. yeesh!)
And finally, the "fall" of Hero. Now seeing as I have analyzed the play and I have learned what it meant to be slandered in those times, I do not believe that Whedon made it very believable in this film. In those times, to be slandered was to lose everything. You were dead in the eyes of society. To be publicly shamed like Hero was, it was basically the end of her social life. That is what I learned. However in this film, the wedding scene was more tamed than I thought it should have been. There should have been uproars from the spectators, rage from Leonato, and utter devastation from Hero. All we see is nothing from the wedding guests, but extreme silence, contained anger from Leonato, and Hero had a few tears in her eyes. Her faint wasn't even believable. That is truly my only known flaw with this film. The one thing I can say for this scene was Claudio, who was played by Fran Kranz. While he publicly shamed Hero, he looked as if he still loved her. He looked as if he hated what he was doing, but he had to continue anyways. Because she wronged him and lied to him.
This film was great. The juxtaposition between the formal and the funny was truly remarkable. Nathan Fillion made an excellent Dogberry and Betrice's "If I were a Man" speech was still as powerful as it is on paper. I would definitely watch this film again.
This film was great. The juxtaposition between the formal and the funny was truly remarkable. Nathan Fillion made an excellent Dogberry and Betrice's "If I were a Man" speech was still as powerful as it is on paper. I would definitely watch this film again.