Hamnet – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Hamnet – Of Love and Loss: Life is … but a Play

The power of film is defined by a single vision and ingenuity.  These two traits, no matter the genre, create a blissful feeling that defines that grip of the escape.  From the fantastical to the surreal, if you can feel something, it can become an unforgettable experience.  In this review, I take a look at the latest period piece to hit the big screen.  In a tale about moments and life, what is futile becomes all that more magical.  Even for its slow moments, Hamnet is an amazing tour de force of what it means to live. 

In a tale of love and loss, one man will find the inspiration to create a masterpiece of a play … Hamlet.  To begin, I preface this review by saying that what comes to be true is a matter of perspective.  From action to romance, there are many different traits that can pull you into a film.  For me, what can make a film great goes beyond genre, where the escape can grip you to something more.  With this film, even with its dry moments, I believe it is a genuine masterpiece.  In the beginning, we are introduced to our main leads, Agnes (Jessie Buckley) and Will (Paul Mescal).  Will is working as a tutor for Agnes family, where the two slowly develop a relationship.  After subtle hints of attraction, one thing leads to the next and they are married, have kids and begin a life as a family.  This first half of the journey is defined by the layer of moments; marked by slow burn characterization and realistic immersion.  As Agnes, Will and the rest of the cast interact (you can view the list of actors/actresses at the film’s IMdb Page – link), it is a methodical drip of subtle emotions that spark relativity of the period within themes of homely values and familial themes.  It is in the slow burn approach from Chloe Zhao (writer/director) that emphasizes life moments through a journey driven by raw emotions and honest dialogue.  As the familial journey starts to reflect on personal choices, it leads to conflicts of creativity (for Will) and free-spirited choices (for Agnes).  From love, angst and complications (of certain things), there world of bliss hits a wall of peril when a death happens, turning the tale from just another escapable journey to an ingenious work of art. 

From this point, we head into the second half defined by fractured levity and honest revelations.  As Will and Agnes deal with the death through indifference, each scene starts to rise through a retrospective about life.  As uncertainty starts to cloud their existence, it becomes heightened by fractured hearts against the marker of spirituality.  The journey starts to waver between airy moments and illusion of grandeur, but Zhao drives emotional weight with her methodical direction of characters through amazing scene presence defined by layers of love and loss.  As certain dominos fall, Agnes decides to watch Will’s latest play at the Globe Theatre, leading to a third act of true emotional fervor.  As things come full circle, we head into a climax that makes this film a true, work of art.  Hamnet is a film that stands out through its ingenious journey about the personal life of William Shakespeare.  If you are a fan of Shakespeare, Dramas or Period Pieces, this is one for you.  For those ready to venture into something genuine, I say give it is chance because I believe this is a masterpiece of filmmaking.   

Full Score – 5 out of 5 (Legendary)