Hamlet (2000 film)
Hamlet, also known as Hamlet 2000, is a 2000 American drama film written and directed by Michael Almereyda, set in contemporary New York City, and based on the Shakespeare play of the same name. Ethan Hawke plays Hamlet as a film student, Kyle MacLachlan co-stars as Uncle Claudius, with Diane Venora as Gertrude, Liev Schreiber as Laertes, Julia Stiles as Ophelia, Steve Zahn as Rosencrantz, Bill Murray as Polonius, and Sam Shepard as Hamlet's father.
| Hamlet | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Michael Almereyda |
| Screenplay by | Michael Almereyda |
| Based on | Hamlet by William Shakespeare |
| Produced by | Andrew Fierberg Amy Hobby |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | John de Borman |
| Edited by | Kristina Boden |
| Music by | Carter Burwell |
Production company | double A Films |
| Distributed by | Miramax Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 112 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $2 million |
In this version of Hamlet, Claudius is "king" of the Denmark Corporation, having taken over the firm by killing his brother, Hamlet's father.
This adaptation keeps the Shakespearean dialogue but presents a modern setting, with technology such as video cameras, Polaroid cameras, and surveillance bugs. For example, the ghost of Hamlet's murdered father first appears on closed-circuit TV.