Analysis Of Film Production Of The Merchant Of Venice

Analysis Of Film Production Of The Merchant Of Venice

Film Review

Michael Radford 's 2004 film production of The Merchant of Venice provides a well–executed and generally faithful rendition of Shakespeare 's play. Radford 's production especially succeeds in both its casting and set design that elevates the mood and drama contained in Shakespeare 's text. In addition to the filming, particular attention was taken to following the original text, but some interesting in liberties in plot details were taken. Radford's production serves as an exemplar of film adaptions of Shakespeare's play; it takes the challenge of adapting the text to the screen with excellent casting, bold filming, and well imagined sets. Jeremy Irons as Antonio, the merchant, gives a convincing mix of optimism converted to pessimism as he prepares for his death in the court. Perhaps the best casting, Al Pacino plays an excellent Shylock that initially invokes the movie watcher's empathy then turns quickly into an enraged, psychopathic persona reminiscent to his characters in Scarface or Godfather. Particularly, Pacino shows off his talent in the famous 'Hath not a Jew eyes' monologue where Pacino takes us through a full emotional range of compassion, sympathy, to scorching rage. Similarly, Radford uses this scene to show off his directorial chops: the scene uses a 'follow shot' in which the camera follows Pacino's character as he crosses the dark Venetian streets, through a brothel to find Antonio's comrades, and back into the streets where the heart of his

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