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In 16th century Venice, in order to win a woman's heart, Bassanio is forced to make a deadly deal with pitiless moneylender Shylock (Al Pacino). Bassanio will get his money, and without paying interest. If he doesn't pay it back, however, he will owe Shylock a pound of his flesh.
It tilts so far in one direction that the comic elements seem to come from another, lesser film.
September 26, 2005
Urban Cinefile
A richly cinematic and robust rendition of Shakespeare's pre-political correctness play about the place of Jews in anti-Semitic 16th century Venice, Michael Radford's film takes delight in dramatics thus pulling us into the story.
We see what an actor's actor Pacino can be: he's careful and watchful; respectful of other actors' timing; and says his lines perfectly, resisting all temptation to grandstand.
Radford has rendered off the comedy to find the dramatic skeleton underneath. It is an approach that works stunningly well and is perhaps the only way the play can now be done.
March 10, 2005
Orlando Sentinel
A vivid, engrossing and defensible Shakespeare adaptation, a period piece that truly has a feel for a time long past -- and a place and attitude that are not.
February 25, 2005
At the Movies (Australia)
The text is wonderful, Radford's film has some fine performances from Jeremy Irons and Joseph Fiennes, and he makes good use of Venice locations.