Much Ado-- Shakespeare

[drlloyd11]

http://www.vulture.com/2012/09/toronto-when-joss-whedon-played-hamlet.html
I wonder if this was recently?

In Whedon's version, then, he surrounded himself with Acker as Ophelia, Denisof as Claudius, actress Amber Benson(Tara from Buffy) as Gertrude , and another writer, Tim Minear, as Polonius. "It gave me the insight that I really needed to see how much an actor can give to another actor," said Whedon. "A lot of directors like myself, who let's say are 'control enthusiasts,' might not be willing to accept that."

[Hemiola]

I hope it's recent: I'd like to see it.

It would be interesting to compare it to the previous film version, which was directed by Kenneth Branagh. He also starred in it as Benedick, along with his then-spouse Emma Thompson (as Beatrice) as well as Robert Sean Leonard, Michael Keaton and Denzel Washington.

[AmbersSecretAdmirer]

As far as I'm aware the film is a modern update (but keeping the language) of the original play. I also love the Branagh version so Joss is really up against a classy version which I highly doubt he can match (thats nothing against Joss, just an obvious recognition of Branagh's superior credentials when it comes to Shakespeare). It is a great pity that the Hamlet they discussed was never filmed as seeing Amber as Gertrude would have been great as it is a really meaty role. Not sure that either Joss or James would be good as hamlet though in that situation as it would look odd them playing Hamlet and Amber playing his Mother. But Denisof as the villainous Claudius would be worth seeing.

[DaddyCatALSO]

Well, the "Much Ado...." movie is recent, and now has a distributor, but I I'm guessing that the other plays referenced are references to the Satruday parties at Joss's house. Maybe. Of course James has often said he'd like to "do soemthing" with a MAcbeth adpatation, so possibly this refers to soemthing more substantial.

[Hemiola]

So the "Much Ado" film is out, and AB is not in it.

The principal BtVS people in the show are Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion and Tom Lenk. I'd like to see it if only to hear how Fillion delivers my favorite line: "Thou naughty varlet!"

[DaddyCatALSO]

To be blunt, I don't expect to see Amber and Joss working together again.

[willowtaralover]

It'd be sad if they didn't. She is such a great actress an we woul never have known about her if she had never been on Buffy and Amber does still work as an actress. Hopefully she'll get hired for a future season of 'Agents of Shield'.

[Dana5140]

I get the sense that there is still a wall between them. She is not part of the Whdon repertory group and has not worked with him since Buffy. Only once that I can remember did they come together, for a political rally.

[willowtaralover]

It is so sad to hear that especially as she as always given a lot of praise to having had the opportunity to play Tara. Then again maybe she prefers being an indie queen, her profile means a lot of films that might not normally get made, like 'Dust-Up' actually produced.

[Hemiola]

Joss Whedon was the guest on Stephen Colbert's show last night (6/20), plugging his version of "Much Ado About Nothing".

A clip was shown, that demostrated that Whedon seems to feel that slaptstick and pratfalls are an important part of "modernizing" Shakespeare. I am now not sure that I want to see this thing.

I did learn a couple of interesting things from the interview:
1. "Joss" is not his real name. It's Joseph, and he changed it (He said he didn't like people calling him "joey").

2. The film was apparently made on a "microbudget" (for example, the clip they ran was filmed at his house!). I take that to mean that he couldn't get serious funding for the project (Unlike Kenneth Branagh, who seems to have had no trouble obtaining big screen financing for his version of "Much Ado " ).