"A Midsummer Night's Dream": The Film

Paper Summary:

This is a film review of Michael Hoffman's 1999 portrayal of William Shakespeare's play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream". This essay isolates the weaknesses in Hoffman's art, arguing that Hoffman takes so many liberties in filming his adaptation, that the final product is void of anything Shakespearean, save the original language. The paper also highlights several moments of cinematic genius and mentions the excellent acting by Kevin Kline.

From the Paper:

"Kevin Kline's Nick Bottom is the film's sole redeeming character. Klines shines as Bottom, combining joy and apprehension throughout his oscillating plots. Delivering one of his better performances, Kline plays Nick Bottom as a tragic-comic champion-a despondent drudge with big stage aspirations. The play-within-a play subplot works well with Hoffman's rough mechanicals. When Bottom is transformed into an ass, the object of Queen Titania's affection, it is poignant to note how his moment of grandeur renders him completely oblivious to his physical state. Bottom alone gives flight to the central idea that love is both maddening and redeeming, and the comedy seems to soar whenever Kline appears."

More papers on "A Midsummer Night's Dream": The Film:

• Comparison Essay # 33748 : "Film Adaptation of "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
• Analytical Essay # 7582 : "A Midsummer Night's Dream"
• Comparison Essay # 98992 : "Film: "William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream"

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