Hamnet
Hamnet is a masterpiece. I went back and worth, debating with myself, as to whether this was as 10/10 or 9.5/10, and ultimately landed at 9.75, but really my only criticism, if at all, is perhaps the lack of rewatchability this has for me compared to my other 10’s. This is an emotionally taxing for 90% of the movie, and then the final act, in the recreated Globe Theater, is so cathartic and rewarding, that it makes that first 90% extraordinarily worth it, but I’ll never get to watch it for the first time again, if that makes any sense. The Globe Theater scene, where this film culminates, is the most moved I’ve been in a film probably since Everything Everywhere All at Once. Many things are happening all at the same time to create such a beautifully masterful finish: tour de force acting from Paul Mescal, Jessie Buckley, Noah and Jacobi Jupe, inspired storytelling and pacing from Chloé Zhao, and meticulous set design to recreate the Globe Theater so authentically. The ZEJ team all agreed after our viewing that there was something especially satisfying about the scene in part because we had all learned in great detail about Shakespeare’s plays, and the wide audience that received them, not just the wealthy, but the commoners, and somehow that core childhood knowledge amplified our enjoyment. A lovely film. Chloé Zhao, take a bow. Our collective score of 9.67 makes this the top ZEJ movie of the year, and 4th highest rated movie of all time!
-Z
As an English major, I definitely was not as much of a Shakespeare fanatic as some of my peers, but I did study a few of his plays in detail, and Hamlet was one of them, which made me really excited about this film when I first saw it announced. Then I saw a preview which made me worried it was going to be a bleak, tragedy-porn-esque sobfest. But the end result here was a masterpiece from Chloe Zhao, and I'm going to declare it the best movie of the year so far for me. Yes, it is very sad (and there was definitely some sobbing in our theater), but the unbelievable acting prevented the plot from feeling like emotional manipulation. The ending scenes set in the Globe Theater were gripping and really moving. Very deserving of all of the awards this will no doubt receive.
-E
Paul Mescal is a new ‘must-watch’ for me after this performance, and he wasn’t even the best actor in the movie. When I left I was a little unsure of my feelings, but I let it grow into what this movie is; a true masterpiece in many ways. I think Chloé Zhao made a beautiful film, both in story and directing. It was shot perfectly in my opinion and ended in a great place with a strong payoff. A few things bothered me were the song at the end and a few parts that seemed to go nowhere in the cinema version (but I assume were a large part of the novel). Because of that, it stays away from a coveted 10, but I think anyone who wants to watch and appreciate true cinema needs to see this film ASAP!
-J
