Hamlet

Made impossibly cheaply (shot and mixed on video, then transferred to film) this obviously took great effort and dedication. But was it worth it? As a compression of the play, it's initially inventive but all too soon predictable: the device of having twin brothers play Hamlet wears very thin indeed. As an interpretation, it is most notable for taking the misogyny of the 'get thee to a nunnery' scene and applying it liberally to the rest of the play: having Helen Mirren play both lead women helps Coronado to sustain this reading. The misogynist bias puts the film's overall gay-camp sensibility in a very questionable light, and preening performances from Crisp and Sheybal don't help. At worst, offensive; at best, joyless.