This meme celebrates an awesome adaptation related to a weekly category. Any format of adaptation (television series, film, web series, etc.) is acceptable as long as it is based in some form on a book. This meme is hosted by Alisa Selene at PictureMeReading. Check out her site and join in on the fun!
An Awesomely Magical Adaptation
Title: Much Ado About Nothing
Well I'm taking kind of big liberty with this week's AA theme as there isn't any magic of the literal kind in Joss Whedon's film Much Ado About Nothing, but magic of the figurative kind in the acting, directing and vision behind this film. Joss Whedon filmed it at his house, in a little over a week with his friends, and although it is a stripped down affair, that allows for a wonderful focus on the story and the words and the emotions. The actors are so amazing in their roles and although Shakespeare's words didn't seem to run trippingly off every actor's tongue, the emotion behind them ran true, and the humor was very apparent as well.
The scenes with Benedick and Beatrice were the best part of course; witty banter executed brilliantly with a hard edge of disappointment or misunderstanding behind it. And love. Their journey in the play is the heart of the story and a beautiful romance, and Amy Acker and Alexis Denisof pulled it off so well. Another performance that captured me was Sean Maher as the almost over-the-top villan Don John (the line is tread so carefully through the acting and directing), but he is wonderfully dark and dastardly and just plain fascinating. I've never been so intrigued by Don John before!
This is a wonderful film - unpretentious and emotional and even more riveting when you think of how it was made. Without the trappings of effects, the filmmaking and the acting are highlighted and it brings so much magic to Shakespeare's story.
Now I'm going to go back to listening to the sleek, musicalized version of "Sigh No More" from the film! I love it!
