"ShakespeaRe-Told" Much Ado About Nothing (2005)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Brian Percival

Writers:

David Nicholls (writer)
William Shakespeare (play)

TV Series:

"ShakespeaRe-Told" (2005)

Original Air Date:

7 November 2005 (Season 1, Episode 1)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Tensions mount in the TV studio when a take-charge anchor is reunited with a man she has a "history" with.

Plot Keywords:

Love | TV News | One Liner | Shakespeare | William Shakespeare

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Sarah Parish	...	Beatrice
Damian Lewis	...	Benedick
Andrew Barclay	...	Taxi Driver
George Couyas	...	Waiter
Martin Jarvis	...	Leonard
Olivia Colman	...	Ursula
Tom Ellis	...	Claudio
Derek Riddell	...	Don
Patrick Ryecart	...	Keith
Billie Piper	...	Hero
Nina Sosanya	...	Margaret
Anthony O'Donnell	...	Mr Berry
Rasmus Hardiker	...	Vince
Michael Smiley	...	Peter
Henrietta Clemett	...	Girl in Club

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:12 | Australia:M

Company:

BBC Drama Group

Goofs:

Continuity: When Don arrives at the party you can see he has not drawn on any black eyebrows yet later you see him with black eyebrows drawn high on his forehead. This happens continuously throughout the party scene

Quotes:

Beatrice: [Coming Forward] What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true? Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorn so much? Contempt, farewell! an maiden pride, adieu! No glory lives behind the back of such. And, Benidick, love on; I will requite thee, Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand: If thou dost love, my kindness shall incite thee to bind our loves up in a holy band; For others say thou dost deserve, and I believe it better than reportingly.

Movie Connections:

Version of Viel Lärm um nichts (1964)

Much Ado About Nothing

A fan of Kenneth Branagh's version, I tuned into this accidentally, not expecting very much. Boy, was I wrong. Usually when some fool tries to do a modern remake of Shakespeare it's awful to the point of cringing, but I loved this! Not only was it clever, Beatice and Benedict worked in a newsroom and their biting comments were laugh-out-loud-hilarious, but there was more sexual tension than that in Branagh's version - where he was actually married to Emma Thompson playing Beatrice to his Benedict! The actor playing Benedict was emulating Branagh slightly, but came off rather better and to be honest, hotter. Beatrice was a 21st century independent woman with some edgy one liners that she delivered amazingly - her personality coming through perfectly, and there is this amazing scene where Ben had me in stitches, crawling across the floor...oh man, was that funny! Definitely worth a watch!