Much Ado About Nothing

A contemporary film adapted from Shakespeare's play. A group of soldiers returns from war and stays at Leonato's house. Young Claudio falls in love with the host's daughter Hero and preparations for a wedding begin. The second line is far more entertaining. Benedick and Beatrice detest each other; every meeting turns into a duel of words and both declare at every opportunity that they are against marriage. The others in the house set up a game: each will be told that the other is secretly in love with them. The plan works. At the same time Don John lays a trap and produces false evidence about Hero's fidelity. The wedding scene turns into a disaster because of it. What sets this version apart is the setting: the text stays the same but the events take place in present-day California. The characters wear suits, drink cocktails and use telephones. It was shot in black and white and completed in twelve days at the director's own house. The crew is small and the cast is made of people he had worked with before. Amy Acker plays Beatrice and Alexis Denisof plays Benedick. Nathan Fillion and Clark Gregg are in the cast. Joss Whedon directed. An enjoyable choice for anyone who likes Shakespeare adaptations and independent productions. For a viewer not used to the text, the language is of its period and following it without subtitles may be hard.