Ethan Hawke stars in this modern update of Shakespeare's classic play. He portrays a young filmmaker in New York City who struggles to gain power of his deceased father's company, even as the new boss (Kyle MacLachlan) manages to take total control of the proceedings. Michael Almereyda's (NADJA) film is another stylized adaptation of the Bard's words, featuring standout performances by the entire cast. For other modern Shakespeare adaptations, see Baz Luhrmann's ROMEO AND JULIET and Julie Taymor's TITUS.

Theatrical release: May 12, 2000 (NY/LA).

Godfrey Cheshire of the New York Press and Elvis Mitchell of the New York Times each named HAMLET the best film of 2000.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
Letterbox - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus

Distributor Notes: Hamlet

Hot Hollywood star Ethan Hawke (GATTACA) is joined by Julia Stiles (10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU) and Bill Murray (RUSHMORE) in a hip, thoroughly contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare's epic story of passion, betrayal, and revenge! The president of the Denmark Corporation is dead ... and already his wife is remarried to the man suspected of his murder! Nobody is more troubled than her son, Hamlet (Hawke). Now, after this hostile takeover, trust is impossible, passion is on the rise, and revenge is in the air! Also featuring Kyle MacLachlan (ONE NIGHT STAND), Liev Schreiber (SCREAM 3), Diane Venora (THE INSIDER), and Sam Shepard (THE PELICAN BRIEF) in an outstanding ensemble -- the power of Shakespeare's timeless words is matched by the stunningly modern look and feel of this widely acclaimed, highly entertaining big-screen event!

Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.

Ethan Hawke: American actor, REALITY BITES, TRAINING DAY
Julia Stiles: 
Kyle MacLachlan: American actor, SEX AND THE CITY, TWIN PEAKS
Diane Venora: American Film/Stage Actress
Bill Murray: American actor, LOST IN TRANSLATION, MEATBALLS
Liev Schreiber: American actor, SCREAM series/LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA
Sam Shepard: Actor, playwright,
Casey Affleck: Actor - brother of Ben
Karl Geary: Actor/"Nadja"
Steve Zahn: Actor
Jeffrey Wright: Actor/"Basquiat"
Dechen Thurman: Actor, Uma's Brother
Paul Bartel: Actor/Director

Michael Almereyda: Screenwriter/Director

Andrew Fierberg: AMERICAN PRODUCER
Amy Hobby: PRODUCER\"NADJA"

Michael Almereyda: Screenwriter/Director

Carter Burwell: American composer, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Kristina Boden: Editor

"...Conceptually vivid..."
"...A visual knockout....Thou wilt be dazzled..."
"...Jangling and incisive..." -- Rating: A
"...An insistently tricky piece of conceptual art....The impromptu tone is often charming..."
"...Almereyda has infused HAMLET with such a contemporary sensibility that today's audiences can't help but relate..." -- 4 out of 5 stars
"...Almereyda imagines HAMLET taking place in present-day Manhattan with such vigor, insight and originality that the power and immediacy of his film makes Shakespeare accessible in an exciting and provocative manner..."
"...Voluptuous and rewarding...[a] vital and sharply intelligent film..."
"...Bill Murray is a good choice as Polonius....It demonstrates how Shakespeare, who in a way invented modern English, has so dominated it ever since that his meanings are always broadly clear to us, even despite unfamiliar usages..."
"...Ingeniously and divertingly updating Shakespeare to corporate New York....HAMLET benefits from playfully iconographic casting..."