Shakespeare
William Shakespeare (April 26, 1564 - April 23, 1616) is reputed to be the greatest of all writers in the English language, or indeed in any language. His ability to capture and convey the most profound aspects of human nature is regarded by many as unequalled, and the English Renaissance has often been called "the age of Shakespeare". He was among few playwrights who have excelled in both tragedy and comedy and several of his plays contain songs that are among the finest lyric poems in English. His prolific output is especially impressive in light of the fact that he lived only 53 years.
"A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool." - Will Shakespeare
Looking for Richard (1996)
7.4/10
Director: Al Pacino
Starring: Penelope Allen, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Conway, Al Pacino, Estelle Parsons, Aidan Qu...
A fascinating, documentary-style film about Al Pacino's staging of Richard III and his simultaneous exploration of the relevance of Shakespeare to peo... Read more
Macbeth (Fassbender) (2015)
6.6/10
Director: Justin Kurzel
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Paddy Considine, Sean Harris, Jack Reynor,...
The story of a fearless warrior and inspiring leader brought low by ambition and desire. A thrilling interpretation of the dramatic realities of the t... Read more
The Taming of the Shrew (BBC) (1988)
7.2/10
Director: Jonathan Miller
Starring: John Cleese, Sarah Badel
Jonathan Miller's sympathetic, vibrant and hilarious adaptation brilliantly blends the more subtle essences of Shakespeare's classic comedy with the p... Read more
Hamlet (Gibson) (1990)
7.8/10
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Starring: Alan Bates, Glenn Close, Mel Gibson, Paul Scofield, Ian Holm, Helena Bonham Cart...
'God has given you one face, and you make yourselves another' wrote William Shakespeare in his classic tale of vengeance and obsession. Franco Zeffire... Read more
Feast of Love (2007)
6.7/10
Director: Robert Benton
Starring: Morgan Freeman, Greg Kinnear, Radha Mitchell, Billy Burke, Selma Blair, Alexa Da...
As college professor and writer Harry Stevenson (Morgan Freeman) sits quietly in the coffee shop of his tight-knit Oregon community, the local residen... Read more
A Midsummer Night's Dream - Shakespeare Retold (2005)
Director: Ed Fraiman
Starring: Imelda Staunton, Bill Paterson, Lennie James, Sharon Small, Zoe Tapper, Dean Len...
Polly (Imelda Staunton) and Theo (Bill Paterson) have come to Dream Park to celebrate the engagement of their daughter in this updated BBC version of... Read more
Macbeth (Welles) (1948)
6.6/10
Director: Orson Welles
Starring: Orson Welles, Jeanette Nolan, Dan O'Herlihy
This adaptation of the Bard was shot in 23 days on a western backlot at Republic Studios and is pure cinema: moodily magnificent photography reinforce... Read more
Shakespeare Behind Bars (2005)
7.6/10
Director: Hank Rogerson
At the Luther Luckett Correctional Complex in LaGrange, Kentucky some well-behaved prisoners are taking part in the Shakespeare program. This year, t... Read more
Coriolanus (2011)
6.2/10
Director: Ralph Fiennes
Starring: Brian Cox, James Nesbitt, Ralph Fiennes, Vanessa Redgrave, Gerard Butler, Jessic...
For his directorial debut, Ralph Fiennes adapts Shakespeare's tragedy "Coriolanus", transposing the action from ancient Rome to present-day Eastern Eu... Read more
Romeo And Juliet (BBC) (1978)
7.6/10
Director: Alvin Rakoff
Starring: John Gielgud, Patrick Ryecart, Rebecca Saire, Alan Rickman, Celia Johnson, Micha...
Shakespeare's tragic love story was among the first of the BBC's Shakespeare series to be filmed, and possibly one of the most faithful to the play.... Read more