Yes, there have been dramas about the life of Shakespeare. Edward Bond’s fine play Bingo deals with the same period – isolated contemplation in autumnal years – addressed here in Kenneth Branagh’s less abrasive film. Fans of Ben Elton’s unexpectedly amusing Upstart Crow (and Shakespeare scholars) will have some idea of the set-up. We get an actual swan of Avon early onBut for the most part this is a responsible, balanced drama concerning the perils of unfettered contemplation in later life. Whereas Anne Hathaway was eight years older than Shakespeare, Dame Judi has over a quarter of a century on Sir Ken.

Source: The Irish Times February 07, 2019 10:52 UTC