Much Ado About Nothing [DVD + Digital]

If you're familiar with the works of Shakespeare (which it should be noted I am not, with an exception or two), you'll find the plot of Much Ado About Nothing familiar: Beatrice (Amy Acker) and Benedick (Alexis Denisof) are engaged in a war of words, their witty barbs concealing their true love. While Benedick claims he will die a bachelor, the young Claudio (Fran Kranz) is determined to marry Hero (Jillian Morgese). While waiting for the wedding to occur, Benedick and Beatrice's friends/family decide to play a trick on them by declaring within earshot of one that the other is in love with them. Hilarity and drama ensue.If you're familiar with the works of Joss Whedon (which it should be noted I am), you won't be at all surprised by how well he is able to combine thoroughly modern dress with Shakespeare's text. Whedon, ever an admirer of words, has changed but one word of the original dialogue (he got rid of an anti-Semitic joke), which is why you'll find snazzily dressed businessmen talking of war and citizens of the 21st century behaving as if a woman has no value other than her purity. Unlike Ralph Fiennes' recent adaptation of Coriolanus, which felt stiff and dull, Whedon's adaptation of Much Ado is full of life and energy. Though this is the first major non-SF/fantasy work he's done, it feels very much of a piece with the sort of genre mish-mashing Whedon does so well.In some ways, this is the Joss Whedon movie I've always wanted. Just as some are worshipers of the Bard, I am a devout Whedonite. If you're screaming bloody bias right now, hey, I can't fault you. I've genuinely loved everything he's done--even Dollhouse, the weakest and least-regarded of his work, is fascinating--but Much Ado About Nothing is different. It's not that there are no monsters or spaceships, as I've seen some stodgy critics applaud the film for, but because Whedon has been freed from all creative restraints, as he was with 2008's Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. The off-the-cuff nature of the production, which went from conception to filming during a month's worth of downtime from The Avengers, lends the film a liberated, anything-goes spirit. The only set is Whedon's home, and the cast consists of good friends coming together for a laugh, but it is so much more than an in-joke.For one, it just looks great. Shot in black-and-white by Dollhouse DP Jay Hunter, there isn't a single shot of this film that doesn't look gorgeous. Whedon financed the film himself, and while I'm sure he has deeper pockets than many other independent filmmakers, it's still impressive just how rich the photography is. The B&W screwball nature of the film recalls classics from the '30s and '40s; it's not hard to imagine Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant assuming the roles of Beatrice and Benedick in Whedon's version. While I've adored all his films, and Serenity in particular has some beautiful stuff, each of them has lacked some of the pure aesthetic verve of his TV work. That's not the usual complaint you hear; movies aren't supposed to look like TV! But the episodes of his series directed by the man himself, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer's "The Body" or Firefly's "Objects in Space," are some of the most riveting pieces of filmmaking I've seen. Unrestrained by an anxious studio or Marvel's house style, Much Ado About Nothing captures the clever visual artistry of Whedon's best work.So Whedon is a witty guy who knows his way around words, and he's got directorial chops. That's great. None of it would mean anything, though, if he hadn't assembled a cast capable of doing justice to Shakespeare's play. Luckily, almost all of the actors have worked with Whedon before and...well, what can I say? Whedon actors are just better than other actors. Acker and Denisof are terrific as Beatrice and Benedick. Denisof's macho blustering as Benedick hides a childish need to be loved; there's a great sight gag of him lying on his bed, legs swaying back and forth in the air as he gazes lovestruck at Beatrice's picture. Acker outdoes herself, giving one of the most confident and fully-realized performances of the year as Beatrice. Like Benedick, she talks a good talk, but only to hide from herself the fact that she loves Benedick more than anyone. Like nearly all the actors, they handle Shakespeare's dialogue with gusto, their modern line readings giving a new perspective on the Bard's work.The rest of the cast is terrific as well. I liked Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson in the Marvel movies, but I never knew he could be as smart and cunning as he is as Leonato; Nathan Fillion works some of his Captain Hammer macho cluelessness on the role of Dogberry; Reed Diamond proves that he's one of the most undervalued actors in the Whedon stable as Don Pedro; Fran Kranz completely owns the role of Claudio, showing that there's more to him than the lovable nerd types of Dollhouse and The Cabin in the Woods; and newcomer Jillian Morgese makes a memorable debut as Hero, showing a talent for both the comedic and the dramatic, both of which are very important tools for Shakespeare and Whedon. A couple of the minor actors, like Garfunkel and Oates' Riki Lindhome and Spencer Treat Clark, don't handle the language as well, but they certainly don't derail the film.After all that, what else is there to say? If you're a Whedon fan such as myself, you'll recognize everything you love about the man's work in a new setting and get goosebumps over Fred and Wesley being reunited; if you're a Shakespeare fan, you'll be pleased by such an inventive modern adaptation. And if you're a movie fan, well, you'll find that Much Ado About Nothing is simply a delight from start to finish.

So many people have offered excellent reviews and observations on this movie that I feel a bit superfluous adding my thoughts, so I'll keep this short and sweet.Much Ado is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays because it ends in earned love and nobody dies. Whedon captures the sheer joy of the play, but he also eclipses it with enough darkness that the happy ending is not assured. The look on poor, innocent Hero's face as she is falsely denounced by an inherently decent man who has been duped by a cruel trick is enough to break the heart of a cynic. In "Othello," a similar deception ends in murder and tragedy.Whedon has chosen to use Shakespeare's own words, without paraphrasing, throughout the film, a pretty bold decision when you also decide to set it in contemporary times. Because the actors are so good, even if you have never read the play, you will follow the story without difficulty. The choice to open the movie with Benedick and Beatrice having once consummated their attraction alters the entire dynamic and thrust of the story. It was an inspired decision, but a risky one.Black and white suits this film. Partly, it is the astonishing architecture of the house itself (designed and built by Whedon's wife...how lucky is this dude?), which is a meditation on light, glass, mirrors, and what we see and don't see.Nathan Fillion's performance as Dogberry is the best I've seen. It is funny and pivotal to the happy conclusion, but not a parody. He invests the character with an ineffable quality of desire for nobility. It is an interpretation of the character that I have not seen before and made me happy for the education in how a gifted actor can bring a new perspective on any character, no matter how well known.The characters spend almost all the movie with a drink in their hand, which was occasionally distracting, but that is such a small complaint when measured against Amy Ackers' brilliance (her fierce demand for Claudio's death, among many other excellent moments, including her gift for physical comedy), Gregg was not the first choice for Leonato, I understand, but his essential good humor and decency invests him with the requisite qualities to settle all matters at the end. Franz Kranz is amazing as Claudio. Even as he is destroying Hero, you still like him, Alexis Denisof was able to morph from a witty hedonist to someone who not only appreciates Beatrice, but deserves her.I liked this movie. Wish I'd seen it in a theater. It is worth renting if you, like me, like romantic comedies that have a hint of potential tragedy in them.

It took a moment to adjust to the updated matrix for the storytelling. It means more if there is an understanding of the mores of Shakespeare's time. "Much Ado About Nothing" is NOT about nothing but about a very big deal "Something". Life and death won and lost over virginity and paternity in days when there no cute pregnancy tests or birth control pills....and no Google to learn something - anything about marriage and developing intimacy.And even today, fidelity in a relationship opting for the true thing in commitment makes the plot stil asl valid as can be!We enjoyed a Christmas Wedding in 1966. En route or just back from wars as the men of "Much Ado" - the mid-century modern fabrics and furnishings and black and white filming really took me back to those days - wow.And the young passions that walking into war factors into the most casual social event and the most casual romantic pairing. We'd blanche a bit but just suggest that "they" did this to Young Lovers on purpose, like the dynamic in the "Fantasticks" to create sparks and fires in the romance and courtship scenario - creating a superlative dimension to what is really just the natural and usual thing.All that aside, everything was nicely done - few faults found. I loved it!The cast kept reminding me of our gang "in the day" - young lions leaping to the fore with grace and courage - and conceit - with no reason to enjoy real confidence in anything they were doing. What counted is that they WERE doing it and wholeheartedly. And with some art and grace and so earned an outcome that pleased all and won the day for the muse!

Whedon does an amazing job (like he almost always does), in making Shakespeare come alive with this modern retelling. The adaption is done very well and can easily be understood by people who are not fans of Shakespeare or haven't read much of his works.Much Ado also looks incredible on BluRay even though it's in black and white. Glad I spent the extra couple of £'s buying it on BluRay.Do yourself a favor and buy it, I highly doubt you will not enjoy it. There are also some really amazing performances and also some amazing performances and range that you wouldn't expect (case in point, Nathan Fillion who does an amazing job).10/10, 5/5, Whedonites, ASSEMBLE!Wait.. wrong film.

I think making the movie in B&W was a bit pretentious. That said, it worked on two levels for me. We liked that the cast was relaxed and familiar with each other and that made the "script" work in the modern setting. We also had a lot of fun "spotting" which TV series they had previously starred in, if we recognised them.Being familiar with the earlier costume version with Kenneth Brannagh and Emma Thompson it was interesting to compare and contrast.

I originally saw this film in a cinema but have now bought the Blu-Ray version to show to friends. It is performed in modern dress and is extremely stylish. The original Shakespeare words are the most lucidly spoken that I have ever heard. A very romantic film. Highly recommended!

A brilliant, humorous rendition of Much Ado. I watched this on the same day as Whedon's latest Avengers film and laughed far more at this. Casting is great - particularly if you are a Whedon fan. Superb.

This movie is amazing and fun! Shot in black and white, it's a modern take on the story, but with Shakespeare's original text. But be aware that there is difference between US and UK versions. UK release got only director commentary, trailer and five beautiful art cards. And cover art looks way better than US release.