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Movie Review – <i>Cymbeline</i>. Once More, With Feeling

Production Company: Lionsgate

Starring: Ed Harris, Penn Badgley, Dakota Johnson, Ethan Hawke, Milla Jovovich, John Leguizamo, and Anton Yelchin

Director: Michael Almereyda

Genre: Crime Drama

Running Time: 97 Minutes

MPAA Rating: R

Rating: ★★★★★

 

William Shakespeare ­— talk about an artist who was ahead of his time. Many modern day films are either overtly or covertly based on his poetic scribbles; even The Lion King is influenced by Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. Entering stage right is Cymbeline, a new age version of the play of the same name. It is a crime drama that tries to blend the words of Shakespeare into our modern society, but unlike other movies that have attempted to pull this same trick, Cymbeline doesn’t bring much to the screen that will entice viewers into the theater.

Cymbeline has some similar themes that other Shakespearian stories have. The movie is centered around a forbidden love between Imogen (Dakota Johnson) and Posthumus (Penn Badgley). Imogen is the daughter of Cymbeline (Ed Harris), the leader, aka kingpin, of a drug-dealing biker gang involved in a battle with a group of dirty cops. When Cymbeline figures out Imogen and his penniless protégé Posthumus are lovers, he does anything and everything to keep them apart. He wants Imogen to marry his stepson Cloten (Anton Yelchin), while Cymbeline’s wife, Queen (Milla Jovovich), plots to have Cymbeline killed. Do they have family issues or what?

I’ll be honest; I didn’t know this play existed until I watched the film. After seeing Cymbeline, I understand why director Michael Almereyda decided to interpret the play the way he does. There’s so much going on in the story that keeps you on your toes. I don’t want to give too much away but from the synopsis alone, you can see why the story is compelling. That said, Cymbeline is a rather bad representation of Shakespeare’s play.

Imogen (Dakota Johnson) patiently waits for her love

While the story itself is intriguing, the film would have benefited from a different director. Almereyda makes some poor decisions; if he had changed a few things, the film would have made a lasting impression. He needed to focus his attention on making Cymbeline more visually dramatic. For example, whenever a character faces death (because it wouldn’t be Shakespeare without a little mortality), I didn’t feel a sense of impending danger. These types of scenes throughout the film are neither thrilling nor sad. Death feels almost casual due to the camera angles and editing. Had Almereyda worked more closely with the editor and cinematographer to make these scenes have faster cuts or better angles, they would be immensely better. Don’t get me wrong; there are moments of good, even great editing and cinematography in other scenes, but not where it matters in the intense scenes.

Someone give the casting department a medal. What a triumph for them to secure so many great actors in this indie, modern day Shakespearian film. Cymbeline includes a perfect blend of renowned actors who are the perfect choice for their parts. They all do a great job with the natural way they speak their Shakespearian lines in the present day setting, bringing some good flare to their characters. In particular, Ed Harris does a pretty good job portraying Cymbeline.

at the table, l-r: Cloten (Anton Yelchin), Cymbeline (Ed Harris), and Queen (Milla Jovovich) meeting with the police to show who’s boss

He has a demeanor that tells the audience you don’t want to mess with him, despite being a fair father figure in all his decisions — except, of course, his lack of understanding the love between Imogen and Posthumus. The only shortcoming the actors have from time to time is their lack of emotional attachment to their character, making it difficult to connect with them when they are sad, happy, angry, etc. The actors did have some occasional emotional moments, but it was too infrequent throughout the film. I have to, once again, point my finger at the director. These are tremendous actors who have done so many great roles in the past and are more than capable of playing these characters. For example, John Leguizamo does a great job in the film Romeo and Juliet so there is no reason to expect anything less of him, or the others, in Cymbeline. Although, when it’s easy to see the actor detach from their role, it takes away from the film. If there were only one actor not cutting the grade, I’d say it was that person’s fault, but since it happens across the board, the culprit is pretty easy to spot. Almereyda should’ve gotten more out of the actors. Being both the writer of this adapted screenplay and director, he should’ve known the source material well and been able to get to everything out of his actors. The sporadic lack of emotions doesn’t ruin the film, but I would’ve liked a little more feeling from everyone.

What I like about Almereyda is how he implements the modern setting in this story. It’s not easy altering a Shakespearian play into a contemporary film, but Almereyda makes the events seem plausible and realistic. Having Cymbeline as a kingpin of a gang (instead of a king), fighting the police in a American city of Rome (instead of the Romans), with Posthumus as a skateboarding artist (instead of a basic commoner) — and other clever character choices — helps bring more to the story than what is supposed to take place during Caesar’s reign. The music also provides a modernized feel to the film. The score is my favorite part. It has a new age tempo feel much like the movie Drive, and sets the mood perfectly.

Iachimo (Ethan Hawke) isn’t as trustworthy as he looks

Cymbeline is worth a watch, despite the problems created by Almereyda. It is full of forbidden love, a fight with rival forces, conspiracy, heartbreak, plenty of death, friends becoming enemies, and all of the wonderfulness that Shakespeare likes to bring to his stories. Had some better decisions been made throughout this film, I’m sure it would have been great. But, if you want to listen to some cool music and you can get past the lack of drama conveyed, feel free to watch this. It’s better than a Shakespeare in the Park showing and is cheaper than your average playhouse.

 

In Theatres and On Demand March 13, 2015

Cymbeline will be shown in the following theatres:

New York: Quad Cinemas 4

Los Angeles: Sundance Sunset Cinemas

Atlanta: AMC Southlake Pavilion 24

Washington, DC: AMC Hoffman Center 22

Chicago: AMC South Barrington 30

Dallas: AMC Grapevine Mills 30

Philadelphia: AMC Cherry Hill 24

Phoenix: AMC Arizona Center 24

Detroit: AMC Forum 30

Tampa, FL: AMC Veterans Expressway 24

 

LIKE Cymbeline on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CymbelineTheMovie

 

Follow the movie on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GrindstoneEnt and use the hashtag #Cymbeline or #CymbelineMovie

 

Photos © 2015 Lionsgate. All Rights Reserved.

Nick Polizzi

You might say I'm a firm believer in the Narrative Paradigm. I'm a storyteller. If I'm not watching a film, I'm reading a book or writing. Laughing is the most important thing in the world, so I do my best to infect everyone with humor. I also enjoy the stuff the cool kids like, but my true identity is a sarcastic, ordinary nerd who strives to be extraordinary.

Nick Polizzi

You might say I'm a firm believer in the Narrative Paradigm. I'm a storyteller. If I'm not watching a film, I'm reading a book or writing. Laughing is the most important thing in the world, so I do my best to infect everyone with humor. I also enjoy the stuff the cool kids like, but my true identity is a sarcastic, ordinary nerd who strives to be extraordinary.