A Midsummer Night's Dream

I'm not happy giving this film adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream only six stars, because much of it is very clever. The film works best when it's remix of the plays themes with modern elements, but at times it is more of a mashup, cutting and pasting elements from other Shakespeare plays into the narrative (such as quotes from other plays appearing on paper weights, a character reciting lines from Hamlet while lacking on the phone). At too many moments, the film becomes self-conscious and cute - which becomes tiresome. Too bad. I really like Shakespeare and much of the remixing here was a kick. But the director lost the play's narrative which drops this film to a six star affair.

Excellent work from Hamish Linklater here. Lily Rabe and Rachael Leigh Cook are strong, as well. And, despite the 6 star review, this is a very talented director - I hope she gets other opportunities.