King Lear

[Drunk Monk]

There's nothing like great British actors doing Shakespeare. Amazon Prime is claiming the cred but it's really BBC.  Hopkins owns Lear. It may well stand among one of his finest performances and he's had so many already.  Emma Thompson is still shakespearean at heart and nails the duplicity of Goneril. I'd watch her take on any of Willie's roles - her elocution of the bard's prose is always spot on.  Add Jim Brodbent and it's got a Harry Potter factor of 2.  But wait - there's also the ever proper Jim Carter (Carsons from Downton), the ever psycho Andrew Scott (Moriarty from Sherlock) and the ever proboscis Christopher Eccleston (Dr. Who #9) and more - everyone in the cast is a noted Brit actor.  It's filmed in castle and manor locations, but set in modern times with guns and tanks.  One of the hardest father/daughters tales of Willie, and the mad king, well, we all know about that right now, don't we?  This hit home for me on so many levels.  I was watching it with fascination until the hammer drops at the end, and then I was just sorrowful for the human condition and that deep profundity that Shakespeare can muster with his tragedies.  I haven't been engaging Willie's tragedies in recent years and had forgotten most of the details of this play.  It's truncated I think - to fit snugly in two hours.  Really, it's all about Hopkins, a triumphant gripping performance that was perfect for him right now.  No sword fights, instead an MMA-esque match.  Highly recommended for DOOM Bardheads.

[Greg]

It's odd that Ian McKellan just put out a version of this play via Fathom Events. I'm curious how they compare.

Lear was the play I had to study in High School as part of my English Leaving Certificate examination. Out, out vile jelly.

[Drunk Monk]

It's odd that Ian McKellan just put out a version of this play via Fathom Events. I'm curious how they compare.

Lear was the play I had to study in High School as part of my English Leaving Certificate examination. Out, out vile jelly.

Art reflects life. A mad king? Not odd, just literate commentary. 

I am also curious how these might compare but fathom events are pricey. Magneto/Gandalf can surely kill it as Lear too. I’d like to see Picard take a stab at it now.

[Greg]

No, it was odd that Hopkin's and McKellan's both came out within a week of each other. The madness I can understand.

[Drunk Monk]

Duelling Lears.

Still no match for Murica's mad king.  But you gotta give the Brits cred for their dry humor.