- Actors: Jonathan Penner, Randall Batinkoff, Norman Reedus, Jamey Sheridan, Brooke Taylor
- Directors: Stacy Title
- Language English, German
- Classification: 18
- Studio: Cinema Club
- VHS Release Date: 1 July 2001
- Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00005B2U1
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 45,394 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have to be honest - I only bought this because I'm a fan of Norman Reedus. Its a rough, up-to-date rendition of Shakespeare's Hamlet but not a very good one. I can't really comment on the acting too much - it wasn't very good (all-round) but then again - good acting would have been wasted on the film itself.
Still - it didn't cost me much (£2 including p&p) so not much was lost.
Still - it didn't cost me much (£2 including p&p) so not much was lost.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The DVD has good and poor points in and against it.
First the good ones: the thriller is well conceived. Placing Hamlet in the present days is quite well achieved and the story is well paced. Acting is ok (for a thriller it is sufficient).
So you are bound to follow the film with interest.
Picture quality is clear in 4:3 ratio image.
The poor items are: sound is only in stereo, the extra features are almost non existent (only a trailler is available) and there are no subtitles (I consider that at least English subtitles should be a "must" in any DVD, preferably for earing impaired).
First the good ones: the thriller is well conceived. Placing Hamlet in the present days is quite well achieved and the story is well paced. Acting is ok (for a thriller it is sufficient).
So you are bound to follow the film with interest.
Picture quality is clear in 4:3 ratio image.
The poor items are: sound is only in stereo, the extra features are almost non existent (only a trailler is available) and there are no subtitles (I consider that at least English subtitles should be a "must" in any DVD, preferably for earing impaired).
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Confusing title, satisfying film
21 Nov 2001
Hewing closely as it does to the basic outline of "Hamlet", I expected not to be surprised by "Let the Devil Wear Black"--but this movie is liberated enough to function admirably well on its own with its own quirks, internal logic, and occasional flashes of real wit.
Jonathan Penner, a stunningly beautiful actor, portrays a hero whose history of institutionalization keeps our response to his deep suspicion and contacts with his dead father ambivalent--is there a hideous conspiracy afoot, or is Jack just losing it?? Mary-Louise Parker is suitably fragile as his nut-house sweetheart, and the two share love scenes which, despite their graphic nature, still come off as tender and spontaneous, neither brutal nor obligatory.
The supporting performances were equally strong--not a false note in the bunch. Again, I was surprised to find this movie so engrossing, but I was entirely caught up in Jack's dilemma--and he even made me laugh out loud once or twice.
Jonathan Penner, a stunningly beautiful actor, portrays a hero whose history of institutionalization keeps our response to his deep suspicion and contacts with his dead father ambivalent--is there a hideous conspiracy afoot, or is Jack just losing it?? Mary-Louise Parker is suitably fragile as his nut-house sweetheart, and the two share love scenes which, despite their graphic nature, still come off as tender and spontaneous, neither brutal nor obligatory.
The supporting performances were equally strong--not a false note in the bunch. Again, I was surprised to find this movie so engrossing, but I was entirely caught up in Jack's dilemma--and he even made me laugh out loud once or twice.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
A little Pepto will do.
5 Nov 2001
Format:DVD
Hamlet set in the sleazy underworld of L.A.
I saw half of this on cable and thought what the hell, So I bought it and was pleasantly surprised. The Acting is Top notch, Great Character actors Maury Chaukin,Phillip Baker Hall. and Mary Louise Parker all do a fine job. The Alas poor Yorik Scene works really Well.
So if you like contemporary updates of the Bards work. Check this one out.
3 and 1/2 stars.
I saw half of this on cable and thought what the hell, So I bought it and was pleasantly surprised. The Acting is Top notch, Great Character actors Maury Chaukin,Phillip Baker Hall. and Mary Louise Parker all do a fine job. The Alas poor Yorik Scene works really Well.
So if you like contemporary updates of the Bards work. Check this one out.
3 and 1/2 stars.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Interesting, yet stick with Hamlet
31 Aug 2003
Format:DVD
Although the title of Stacy Title's 1999 film noir reinvention of the great bard's Hamlet may be the best thing about the film, it at least makes for an interesting viewing. Title takes Shakespeare's classic and updates it to a sleazy, dark, hot and decadent modern LA (which when you think about it, is not much a stretch). It's a well made film with some very creative, if not haunting flashback and dream sequences. The cast and their performances, for the most part is top notch. In small roles, Jacqueline Bisset and Mary-Louise Parker shine. Parker, who plays the drug and dog food sampling Julia/Ophelia, is the most sympathetic character in the film among a company of sociopaths, drug dealers, criminals and complete losers.
There lies the problem with the film. The characters are for the most part so unlikable, that one could almost care less if Jack (played deliberately over the top by Jonathan Penner) ever avenges his father's suspicious death. In fact, several times during the viewing I was hoping Title would break with Shakespeare and bump off Jack. His "love" scenes with Parker are crude and unaffectionate, making him even more unlikable. Penner's portrayal can be fun at times, yet it's hard to be compassionate or relate to a guy like Jack (unless maybe you are filthy rich, obsessed and have a fetish for sex in restrooms). When sleazy characters are well written, as they are in Scorsese's films, the audience can get to know, like them, even root for them. Here, they are shallow, heartless, almost totally unattractive, stupid at times and rather uninteresting (no, I did not like them). The climax is overblown and ridiculous. Fortunately and thankfully, few are left alive at the film's conclusion.
Still, despite all the flaws. I can't help but recommend the film for film noir fans or those who are looking for "something different" as the filmmaking itself is interesting and well done. With a better script and well-developed characters, it could have been a very good film. However, for great writing, stick with old Bill's Hamlet
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