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The Merchant of Venice (2004)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
3 December 2004 (UK) morePlot:
In 16th century Venice, when a merchant must default on a large loan from an abused Jewish moneylender for a friend with romantic ambitions, the bitterly vengeful creditor demands a gruesome payment instead. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 5 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(15 articles)
St. Louis Shakespeare Hits 25th Year, Opens Season With The Merchant Of Venice In July (From BroadwayWorld.com. 24 June 2009, 12:48 PM, PDT)
Bam Re-Stages The Merchant Of Venice 5/6- 5/17
(From BroadwayWorld.com. 25 March 2009, 2:56 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Excellent and Must see moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Al Pacino | ... | Shylock | |
| Jeremy Irons | ... | Antonio | |
| Joseph Fiennes | ... | Bassanio | |
| Lynn Collins | ... | Portia | |
| Zuleikha Robinson | ... | Jessica | |
| Kris Marshall | ... | Gratiano | |
| Charlie Cox | ... | Lorenzo | |
| Heather Goldenhersh | ... | Nerissa | |
| Mackenzie Crook | ... | Launcelot Gobbo | |
| John Sessions | ... | Salerio | |
| Gregor Fisher | ... | Solanio | |
| Ron Cook | ... | Old Gobbo | |
| Allan Corduner | ... | Tubal | |
| Anton Rodgers | ... | The Duke | |
| David Harewood | ... | Prince of Morocco |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Il mercante di Venezia (Italy)William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (USA) (complete title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for some nudity.Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
138 min | Finland:134 minLanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Dolby DigitalCertification:
Argentina:13 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Mexico:B | Iceland:12 | South Korea:12 | Peru:14 | Brazil:14 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Finland:K-7 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:RFun Stuff
Trivia:
Dustin Hoffman was interested in playing Shylock; however, when he contacted director Michael Radford about it, Al Pacino had already been cast. moreGoofs:
Anachronisms: When Basanio and his entourage are walking with Portia to inspect the chests they pass a pond with a black swan. Black swans are from Australia and weren't known to Europe until after their discovery in western Australia by Dutch explorers in 1697. The Merchant of Venice takes place more than 100 years earlier. moreQuotes:
Bassanio: For thy three thousand ducats here is six.Shylock: If every ducat in six thousand ducats were in six parts and every part a ducat, I would not draw them; I would have my bond.
more
Soundtrack:
Bridal Ballad moreFAQ
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It is a risky business to film such a lavish production of "The Merchant of Venice". It could be a stodgy, wooden, period piece, or it could be laughable for its excesses. This version is neither. While I am not completely sold by Al Pancino's very restrained Shylock, he does give a competent and honorable performance. Jeremy Iron's Antonio, is as always with his tortured-self roles, riveting. Some of the lesser roles seemed to be a little to much in the spirit of boisterous fun, "a boy's own Venician adventure story", but the central plot is efficiently and sympathetically moved forward through the film.
It goes without saying, that the location shots, costumes, and interiors were breathtaking, almost to the point of distraction.
One thing, on which I do not wish to comment on, is the anti-semetic content of the play. The film is as sympathetic to the predicament of the Jews as possible while still portraying Shylock as the instrument of his own self-destruction. It is a sad comment that four centuries later, the director of this film found it necessary to comment on his nuanced view before the premiere screening at the Toronto film fest.
This is a beautiful film, and I look forward to several viewings.