VIRTUE IS BOLD // A FILM REVIEW OF "MEASURE FOR MEASURE"
Modern Shakespeare adaptations can vary wildly in terms of quality. Directors often tackle very unique takes on The Bard's stories because they've been told so many times, over and over. The new Australian gritty adaptation of MEASURE FOR MEASURE, directed by Paul Ireland and adapted by himself and the late Damian Hill, moves the action to modern day Australia and in the middle of a gang war. One of the crime bosses is Duke (Hugo Weaving), who sits high in his tower, overlooking the city. His nephew Angelo (Mark Leonard Winter) is the second in command but is a hot head and is dealing meth all around the city. One of his customers, strung out of his mind, goes on a shooting spree and kills multiple people, including a young black man playing basketball and barely misses hitting Jaiwara (Megan Smart), a young Muslim girl. She survives because Claudio (Harrison Gilbertson) pushes her out of the way. They escape together and spend the rest of the day together, quickly falling for each other.
Duke orders Angelo to stop selling Meth, as dealing is not something he approves of. He's forced to leave town until the heat dies down, so he leaves Angelo in charge (which is the worst possible thing to do). However, he doesn't fully trust that his nephew won't screw it up, so Duke keeps watch on him the entire time. Meanwhile, the forbidden love between Claudio and Jaiwara is discovered by Jaiwara's brother, and the other crime lord in town, Farouk (Fayssal Bazzi) and he is none too pleased. A lot of plotlines, you say? Well, no one ever accused Shakespeare of a light plotline.
MEASURE FOR MEASURE is one of Sheakespeare's "problem plays" and is constantly described as a comedy, even though it switches tone drastically, from light comedy to very heavy drama. So by eliminating the comic elements all together, Ireland's version feels much stronger for it. The cast is dynamic. Hugo Weaving is richly compelling as a hardened boss with a sympathetic side. Megan Smart is dynamic. She takes the smallest moments and makes magic with them. Harrison Gilbertson doesn't have as much to do (other than being scared A LOT) but he is charming and has solid chemistry with Smart. Both Mark Leonard Winter and Fayssal Bazzi add a great urgency and power to their roles, while the rest of the supporting cast all shine in smaller moments. It isn't a perfect adaptation, but what is? Some of the subjects are not quite delved into deep enough, the end falls apart a bit and I wasn't a fan at all of the final moment of the film at all. Overall though, this adaption of MEASURE FOR MEASURE is a finely acted treat.
GRADE: B
BASED ON THE PLAY BY William Shakespeare ADAPTED BY Damian Hill, Paul Ireland DIRECTED BY Paul Ireland STARRING Hugo Weaving, Harrison Gilbertson, Megan Smart, Mark Leonard Winter, Fayssal Bazzi, Daniel Henshall, Doris Younane. Now Available at Digital Cinemas.