The audience sees very much of Hamlet during his soliloquy. Before we see him as a man who is troubled over the death of his father, and then upset over his mother's marriage, and finally as a vengeful son trying to perform an antic disposition to trick his mother and stepfather. It is not until his moment of silence and character performance that one can see through his mad brain to what he really thinks and how his processes the "whips and scorns of time."
No movie is ever the same. Similar, yes. But, each and every director has their own mark on it through the vision handed to the audience for their pleasure. In analyzing the four versions of Hamlet's soliloquy, I found the Kenneth Branagh version to be the most stirring out of all of them. However, it wasn't by the merit of the actors that made the choice for me but the way I saw each character inside of the actors.
Many aspects of movie making contributed to my choice of Kenneth Branagh. The first was costuming because I felt that the blackness of Hamlet's mourning clothes eventually becomes a symbol of the darkness that he succumbs to while pretending to be insane but also being driven mad by the decision of action vs inaction (love, revenge,, death, etc.). Second is camera angles. Whereas all the other scenes were from several angles and takes, if one is to think about it, Kenneth Branagh's entire soliloquy is delivered in one single camera angle. That means that whatever emotion and distress we witnessed from him is indeed genuine and so incredibly crafted. The sound is also very important. In the Lawrence Olivier version of Hamlet, and eerie orchestral music plays in the background as to instill panic in the audience. That is one thing the audience may notice during Kenneth's performance: there's no sound but his voice. Rather than letting the music do the job, the silence allows for the captivating, dramatic moment that the director most likely was striving for. The lighting in the Mel Gibson version performed a dark and dreary tone to the scene as he contemplates life and death. Though the soliloquy is meant to be intense, I feel as if the gray lighting of the tomb is far to much to make a point. In the Branagh version, the bright, airy lighting of the grand and golden hall depicts a stark contrast to Hamlet's mood and costuming; a dark deep color that is slowly seeping itself through the play. Last is setting. Though I will admit that the setting of Ethan Hawke's version of Hamlet is indeed modern and clever, the setting played an important part in understanding the character Hamlet. Kenneth Branagh stands in the grand hall before a mirror, and behind the mirror stands his uncle and Polonius, watching him. If it were not for this setting and this two way mirror, the director would not be able to show Claudius's slow understanding (and frustration) of Hamlet's insanity.
My ranking goes as such: Kenneth Branagh, Ethan Hawke, Mel Gibson, Lawrence Olivier. Each version had their shining moment containing one important aspect of a mis en scene. Kenneth Branagh's version just happened to have them all.
Blog Post Extra Credit: Character Selfie
In this selfie taken by the character Hamlet, he is expressing his anger through his facial expression and balled up fist. This picture therefore reflects the deadly sin of wrath. He is angry about the most recent breakup with his girlfriend, Ophelia, and is using Instagram to spread the news of his breakup. At the same time, the breakup is driving him slowly insane, which is why his ex-girlfriend comments with "Oh what a noble mind is here o'er thrown" and he comments back with "Get thee to a nunnery" because he is still very upset about his breakup.
