Cameron H.

10 Things I Hate About You (Taming of the Shrew)

Totally.

Pretty much comic relief. After the mix-up, he, Sir Nathaniel, Holofrenes, Costard, and I want to say, Moth, put on a play about the Nine Worthies. This would be during the "No Business Like Show Business" scene as it's at the end of the play that the Princess finds out about her father. Basically, the play sucks ass and everyone heckles them, until finally, Costard and Don Armado nearly get into a fight when Costard outs Armado for impregnating Jaquenetta. That's when the Princess learns of her father. Also, I just wanted to say regarding your earlier post about falling in love so easily, I would argue that they're not necessarily "in love." The Princess tells Ferdinand that they thought the men were just fucking with them so they were just playing along. PRINCESS We have received your letters full of love; Your favours, the ambassadors of love; And, in our maiden council, rated them At courtship, pleasant jest and courtesy, As bombast and as lining to the time: But more devout than this in our respects Have we not been; and therefore met your loves In their own fashion, like a merriment. This is why they all have requests for the men at the end. After everything that's happened, they need to know their affection is sincere. So, I wouldn't say "in love" so much as "in deep like."

To be fair, all but the King and Princess had already met before ("Did not I dance with you in Brabent once?")

Well, like you said, he's written to be broad. If he didn't go that big, I'm almost positive the joke wouldn't land. It's the same reason Lane plays Costars so zany. The question you have to ask yourself is: "Does a contemporary audience understand Shakespearean language well enough that they'll 'get it' if it's played straight - or even less broad? Don Armado is definitely a Shakespearean character type, and even in live performances, I've seen those characters played ridiculously broad. For example, my college did a performance of The Tempest where the actor playing - I want to say Trinculo (although it might have been Stefano) - played him as Will Ferrall doing Harry Carey.

It’s not so much the way “Spanish people speak” it’s that he’s adopted an affected manner because he wants to fit in with high society. Shakespeare’s making fun of people who put on airs to impress people. Everything from his title, to the words he uses (and misuses), to the clothes he wears is artifice. In the play, the scenes with him, Sir Nathaniel, and Holofernes highlights this ridiculousness (as well as their own) even further. One could might even go so far as to question whether or not Don Armado is actually even a Spaniard... He’s kind of the Dogberry (From “Much Ado”) in this. See also Michael Keaton’s performance in that... Also, if any of you jokers HAVEN’T seen Branagh’s Much Ado About Nothing you really need to fix that.

I’m just teasing Lillard. I actually think he’s pretty great in this. He’s selling it in every scene, and I respect him for trying to break his typecasting.

Re: lead character In Shakespeare, I feel like the “traditional” heroes are usually pretty dull. For example, in Much Ado About Nothing, Claudio fills the classic archetype of the hero, but is as dull as dishwater. In that case, Benedick (not coincidentally played by Branagh in his version) is the more interesting character. From Shakespeare’s perspective, I feel like Benedick and Berowne were more interesting for a variety of reasons. For one, they were neither too low or high in status. As middle-class characters, they reflected Shakespeare’s own station (and that of the majority of his audience) as well as his perspective. Because of this, these characters are not constrained by Royal protocol. Much like the Fool in Lear (or jesters in general) they enjoy proximity to power, but the freedom to speak their mind and do what they want. As far as Branagh choosing those characters, well, those are the plum roles! He ain’t giving those soliloquies to Lillard - lol.

I love the ending, but I get what you’re saying. It’s not really a Love’s Labour’s “Lost” this way, is it? That being said, though, there is a lost play of Shakespeare’s called Love’s Labour’s Won - possibly a sequel to this play.* What makes Lost stand out from most of Shakespeare’s comedies is that it doesn’t end with a wedding. It’s possible that this supposed sequel would have given the characters their “proper” ending.** I wonder if by giving it a somewhat happier ending, Branagh was paying homage to this missing play. * Possible because comedy sequels were unusual and Love’s Labour’s Won might have just been a placeholder name for a published play. There’s evidence to support both. I tend to think it the former since this particular play does end unusually and Berowne’s line, “That’s too long for a play.” **I just finished reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer last night, and in the Conclusion, Twain writes this: “When one writes a novel about grown people, he knows exactly where to stop - that is, with a marriage; but when he writes of juveniles, he must stop where best he can.” Considering Dumain’s lack of beard (it’s a thing in the play), this seems pretty apt.

I didn't have an issue with that since everything is so heightened anyway. Not to mention, it's supposed to be a little bit naughty. That being said, I think it was EvRoberts who said earlier that that scene would have been too overtly sexual for the time period, but I think it was just trying to convey that it was sexy. It's hard to show an image of an ankle to a person today and have them truly understand just how scandalous that would have been at one point without it looking like a joke. Anyway, it's much better than them dressed up like Russians (as they were in the original play).

Very naughty, indeed.

Posted without comment, lines cut from the film: MARIA: A mark marvellous well shot; for they both did hit it. BOYET: A mark! O, mark but that mark! A mark, says my lady! Let the mark have a prick in’t, to mete at, if it may be. MARIA: Wide o’ the bow-hand! I’ faith, your hand is out. COSTARD: Indeed, ‘a must shoot nearer, or he’ll ne’er hit the clout. BOYET: An if my hand be out, then belike your hand is in. COSTARD: Then will she get the upshoot by cleaving the pin. MARIA: Come, come, you talk greasily; your lips grow foul. COSTARD: She’s too hard for you at pricks, sir; challenge her to bowl. BOYET: I fear too much rubbing; good-night, my good owl.

Yes. I suppose it would! That's a good point, Father.

As a former smoker; dear God, yes!

You can always try you local library for these movies, too.

Beyond them trying to ingratiate themselves, none that I know of. ETA: Is this one of the last movies where smoking isn’t portrayed as being immediately distasteful?

I like the fact that Lillard is front and center and the king is in the back.

I have no doubt that this is true. Of the principal cast, he has the most going on and is the character that delivers the play's thesis. ETA: Oh, and totally provide that Hamlet link.

Sorry, I'm a bit late posting this due to the holidays. Is this Friday cool with everyone or do you all need another week?

No, that's a contrivance of the movie. The play (basically) ends with the ladies going into mourning over the death of the Princess' father.

“They Can’t Take That Away From Me” is one of my favorite songs - although i think it’s kind of cruel to make Lillard song the line “the way you sing off key.” I love it’s use as a Ccoda at the end of the movie. Since a year is “Too long for a play” it gives a bit of closure and adds some real heart to the end - such as seeing Boyet die and Jaquenetta in a Concentration Camp. It also let’s us see Berowne keep his promise to make mirth in a hospital and for (most) of the cast to have a happy ending. I feel like that song perfectly encapsulates and scene perfectly encapsulates that feeling of “I love you, but I don’t know if I’ll ever see you again.” Also, apropos nothing, I loved the tap dancing iambic pentameter.

Yeah, that's ridiculous.

Both Sycasey and Muttnik have given some free options. Do either of those work for you two? Also, if you don't mind watching with strangers (I do), but the Reddit does a viewing on Thursdays via rabb.it. It might be worth checking out. (Although I doubt that works for First Time based on the time difference).

According to "Can I Stream It?" - no. It's available to rent as low as $1.99, though.