Grief needs to be shared, and passion needs to be expressed are the battling themes see-sawing in ‘Hamnet”.  A film based on the historical fiction book with the same title. The plot revolves around the true event of William Shakespeare and his wife, Anne Hathaway losing their only son Hamnet when he was at the age of eleven. The film gives Anne the name Agnes instead.  Hamnet did have a twin sister, Judith and an older sister. Not much is known of the cause of Hamnet’s passing, although the film tries to fill gaps of unknowns of the story its main focus is the emotional journey rather than a documentary one. The result is a film that puts Jesse Buckley in the absolute forefront of winning an Oscar for best actress. Yes, she is that good that she will be very difficult to beat. Her performance in this is  just extraordinary. I’ve been advocating for her on my podcast and oral reviews for many years now just like other film critics. Announcing that she will win an Oscar or two before her career is over.  That goes for Paul Mescal also. Both are so compatible in this film that it whats drives the film.

 Directed by Chloe Zhao (Nomadland, The Rider) the film features the qualities that we come to expect from Zhao, which is a spiritual tenderness countered to a harsh brutality that each shown in equal light and framing. For Zhao, life is brutal and wonderful and should be given equal time in the story. “Hamnet” offers an angle that both William and Agnes were almost outcasts of their villages and homes-misunderstood outsiders with unique talents that are not appreciated by anyone but themselves. 

The film is gorgeous and faulty.  It does go longer in the second act than it needs to be but that is Zhao’s staple in her passion works. What goes against it is that the film has little regard exhibiting William’s process of writing or making his works. William at work is mere after thought in this story. Such a small amount of care towards William’s passion hurts balancing the themes that are driving the story. We do get a view of the showing of “Hamlet” in the globe theater that is even better than shown in “Shakespeare in Love”, the 1998 best picture winner. Outstanding shot and framed.

Hamnet might be a best picture nomination material. I seem to think so. The acting, production, and cinematography are fantastic. It is a roller coaster of the emotional spectrum. Love, anger, rage, denial, fear, and loneliness are all on display. But the main point is no one moves forward from their grief and or passion excels without assistance from your partner or others.  8.5/10