Michael Almereyda's "Hamlet"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how director Michael Almereyda uses technology and a modern setting to tell the story of "Hamlet". It looks at how Almereyda's use of various devices, as well as forms of technology, give "Hamlet" new relevance to an audience that may not understand or care much about the succession of monarchies but does understand the consequences of corporate buy-outs. It also discusses how the fact that Almereyda sets "Hamlet" in modern times not only makes it more accessible to a modern audience, but also changes the image of the play.

From the Paper:

"After one has seen multiple productions of "Hamlet", one comes to expect each production to place a different emphasis on Hamlet's madness. Therefore, one of the most striking things about Almereyda's Hamlet was that it completely de-emphasized Hamlet's madness. However, by taking emphasis away from the very scenes in which other directors have chosen to have their Hamlets act the most mad, Almereyda and actor Ethan Hawke have created something unusual: a Hamlet that is definitely mentally ill. While Hawke's Hamlet lacks the frantic lunacy of other Hamlets, the movie makes it clear that Hamlet is severely depressed. In fact, Hawke spoke of rock star Kurt Cobain, who ended his life by suicide, as his inspiration for Hamlet."

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