The Tempest

2010
PG-13
1h 50m

IMDb RATING

5.3/10

8.3K

YOUR RATING

Helen Mirren and Djimon Hounsou in The Tempest (2010)

A power grab finds Prospera (Mirren), the rightful Duchess of Milan, exiled to a remote island with her young daughter, Miranda (Jones). Asserting influence over the island, Prospera develops a new enemy: the slave Caliban (Hounsou), who looks to raise a rebellion against his foe.

Play trailer2:31

7 Videos

99+ Photos

Comedy Drama Fantasy Romance

Shakespeare's epic play is translated from page to screen, with the gender of the main character, Prospero, changed from male to female.Shakespeare's epic play is translated from page to screen, with the gender of the main character, Prospero, changed from male to female.Shakespeare's epic play is translated from page to screen, with the gender of the main character, Prospero, changed from male to female.

Director
- Julie Taymor
Writers
- Julie Taymor
- William Shakespeare
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.3/10

8.3K

YOUR RATING

Director
- Julie Taymor
Writers
- Julie Taymor
- William Shakespeare
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 2 wins & 5 nominations total

Videos7

Trailer 2:31

The Tempest: U.S. Trailer #1

Trailer 2:25

The Tempest: International Trailer

Trailer 2:25

The Tempest: International Trailer

Photos132

+ 126

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The decision to switch the gender of the lead character was a diving board to a whole new appreciation of the play. It had everything to do with Dame Helen Mirren and a coincidental exchange that writer, producer, and director Julie Taymor had with Mirren. When Taymor encountered Mirren at a party, she had already envisioned Mirren in the role and their conversation cemented her decision. "We were talking Shakespeare", Taymor recollects, "and she had no idea I was planning this film when she mentioned that the first Shakespeare she ever did was Caliban in 'The Tempest', and she actually said to me, 'You know, I could play Prospero-as a woman.' And I said, 'Do you want to? Because I've been preparing a film version of 'The Tempest' with exactly that in mind.' And, fortunately, she said 'yes'."

Goofs
The chessboard that Miranda uses is set up 90 degrees rotated from its proper position. Facing the board, each player should have a white square on the far right of their back rank. This board is positioned so that the black squares are on that side.

Quotes
Prospera: We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little lives are rounded with a sleep.

Crazy credits
Part of the closing credits are an underwater sequence of Prospera's books sinking into the ocean depths.

Connections
Featured in Breakfast: Episode dated 12 September 2010 (2010)

Soundtracks
Darkened Sands
Performed by Ben Whishaw
Music by Elliot Goldenthal
Lyrics by William Shakespeare

User reviews56

Review

Featured review

8/10

Dame Helen reigns supreme

In casting Helen Mirren as Prospera, director Julie Taymor adds an interesting spin to this Shakespeare adaptation.

Also CGI effects help make more sense of the story.

On the downside, film versions of the bard's plays rarely work perfectly (with the honourable exception of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet) and unless you know the play already, the action here is pretty hard to follow. Also, it's a bit strange seeing comic genius Alan Cumming in a straight role.

Ultimately though, the main joy of the movie is Dame Helen. She does bitterness superbly. I loved the scene when Miranda first meets Ferdinand - Mirren's ironic commentary added a whole new dimension to the play for me.

I also loved Tony Conti as the aged senator Gonzalo. His performance is so masterful it puts his character at the forefront of the story for once - no bad thing.

Overall I think Shakespeare fans will really enjoy this film. Other people may be left a little bored and bewildered.