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Title: timeless tragedy of pride, power, and loyalty
Review: Superb acting by Vanessa Redgrave and Ralph Fiennes makes this one of the best Shakespeare films to come out in years. By placing the action in modern-day Rome, complete with "breaking news" on TV, Fiennes makes it clear that this tragic tale of pride, power, loyalty, and manipulation is timeless. Who should have a political voice? By what authority do our leaders rule? Where is the line between populism and demagoguery? Between rhetoric and pandering? These questions are as crucial today as they were when Shakespeare wrote the play in the 17th century*, and when Livy, Plutarch, and others told the story in antiquity.*Shakespeare's language is powerful, but it is 17th-century English poetry so be prepared for unfamiliar words and phrases.
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