Lucybespro
It is a performances centric movie
Contentar
Best movie of this year hands down!
Yazmin
Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.
Francene Odetta
It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.
sheepshearer
No matter if it's real or not, no one wants to hear canned laughter.
It's not 1980.
goldenarrow-99823
This should be awesome. The talent on display both in the cast and writing are impressive, reliable performers - David Mitchell, supported by ever-reliable Paula Wilcox, Liza Tarbuck and Harry Enfield. The setup is prime for exploitation - we are familiar with the Elizabethan period and everyone knows a tiny amount about Shakespeare.But it never really fully ignites - the feuds, snipes, clever asides etc do their job but it just seems to stroll along in 4th gear. Much has been said about the 'canned laughter' - all I'll say is that it does sound like it's fake- if it is genuine then the audience must be the dribbling mekons that usually sit in ITV audiences, certainly not BBC 2!
AttyTude0
... though everything - I mean, everything - is too derivative of the 198Os sitcom. The soundtrack, the set up, the elaborate figures of speech, pick anything. Mitchell's acting and manner of speaking, and even tone of voice, is obviously a copy of Rowan Atkinson's Edmund Blackadder. Bottom would be Baldrick. Marlowe would be Lord Falsheart, Lord Southampton will remind you of Lord Melchett, and on and on. I think Elton tried to revive Blackadder, but there are some successes that simply cannot be repeated.Those who are not acquainted with Blackadder might like this (it has some funny moments, and they do make some clever ... well, play upon Shakespeare plays). But those of us who are fans of that incomparable comedy (I have the whole series and watch it at least once a year) cannot help making comparisons. And Upstart Crow is certainly the one that loses by the comparison.Watch it and make up your own mind, by all means. I find it funny at times, but ... I'd much rather watch returns of Blackadder.
rmemmott-49738
Upstart Crow is one of my current favourites. I particularly like the idea of Shakespeare being a close friend of Christopher Marlowe. There is no evidence that they actually ever met, but who cares? Marlowe is shown as a sort of "Flashheart" type, with all the boozy, womanising style of that great character.The regular speculations of Will on how his work will be seen in history, and allusions to things that could never happen, but that we know actually have occurred, is always fun. The seasoned older actors like Enfield, Tarbuck etc is well mixed with the younger cast.Some of the references to the plays, sonnets etc are no doubt sometimes lost on the average viewer, but, hey, I did Shakespeare at grammar school so I get it, or most of it!
