THE FINAL ACT OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST PLAYWRIGHT.

In 1613, after the Globe Theatre goes up in flames, William Shakespeare (Kenneth Branagh) returns to Stratford-upon-Avon, tends to his garden and tries to reconnect with his family. Branagh returned to Shakespeare, this time in a story that blends facts with fiction in its portrait of the Bard’s autumn years; the previous death of his son Hamnet plays a huge part. Beautifully filmed, philosophical at times (as in Ian McKellen’s only scene), but slow, lacking a certain focus and the three leads are unconvincingly cast, especially Judi Dench.

2019-Britain. 101 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Kenneth Branagh. Screenplay: Ben Elton. Cinematography: Zac Nicholson. Cast: Kenneth Branagh (William Shakespeare), Judi Dench (Anne Hathaway), Ian McKellen (Earl of Southampton), Lydia Wilson, Kathryn Wilder, Jimmy Yuill.

Trivia: Co-produced by Branagh. 

IMDb