The Tragedy of HAMLET

 

   

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director Aneil Karia, writer Michael Lesslie, William Shakespeare, and Vertical is the story of a man and the story of his family in HALMET.

Arriving in London, Prince Hamlet (Riz Ahmed) has returned home to attend his father, the King’s, funeral. His sadness becomes complicated when his uncle Claudius (Art Malik) announces the marriage to Hamlet’s mother, Queen Gertrude (Sheeba Chaddha). Having difficulty with the twisted news, friend Laertes (Joe Alwyn) decides to take Hamlet out for a night on the town for drinks and loud music.

Leaving the party having drunk too much, Hamlet sees the ghost of his father, who wants revenge. Not only for his death, but also for the loss of the King’s wife and crown. Hamlet is overcome with what he learns and turns to Ophelia (Morfydd Clark) with what he learned. Determined to discover the truth, Hamlet begins to look for anything to prove his case.

Then, the idea comes that the new King and his mother cannot deny. When it all goes wrong, Hamlet goes down the path of destruction that leaves no one safe in the wake.

Ahmed, as Hamlet, is a man who not only deals with death but betrayal, which causes a traumatic response to everyone around him. Feeling as if no one understands his feelings, the intensity of that betrayal might be warranted in some cases, but it affects others as well. I have to say, Ahmed is absolutely stunning and incredible as Hamlet. Completely riveting and intense to watch, his performance is so strong that, for me, he is added to my list of the best actors to portray Hamlet, following Laurence Olivier and Richard Burton. Ahmed joins the more modern take alongside Ethan Hawke’s. That being said, Ahmed’s takes the lead for a modern and diverse take. So well done!

Malik, as Claudius, is a man who has his own plan and doesn’t care who he has to make disappear if they get in his way. The one thing about Malik as an actor is that he can play a good guy just as wonderfully as he can a bad guy. Here, he is a man who smiles to your face while having someone else shove a dagger in your back. Chaddha as Gertrude is a woman who is led astray and doesn’t see the world around her as it truly is. She loves her son but is afraid for him in all the wrong ways. A wonderful performance.

Clark, as Ophelia, is a young woman who can’t understand what is happening to the man she loves. Then again, let’s give her a little credit. Hamlet does give off spooky vibes and doesn’t make his feelings clear until those feelings turn ugly. Clark’s portrayal is a modern woman with a not-so-modern heartbreak. Alwyn, as Laertes is a friend, and although Hamlet’s friend, seems to be following what others want. I think the hardest scene is the final scene between Laertes and Hamlet. It is heartbreaking in friendship and intense in betrayal. This is Alwyn’s second Shakespeare film, as he portrayed Bartholomew in the 2025 film HAMNET.

Shout out to Timothy Spall as Polonius, a sneaky character who reminded me of Wormtail. Also, Avijit Dutt as Hamlet’s father’s ghost. His moments on the screen bring out such a reaction from Ahmed’s Hamlet, and it is so emotional.

Other cast include Eben Figueiredo as Marcellus, Krish Misra as Osric, and Kash Ahmad as Reynaldo.

Vertical is a global independent distributor that offers a unique wealth of experience minus the studio costs. Films such as MY MOTHER’S WEDDING, I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU, FIGHT OR FLIGHT, and IN THE LOST LANDS are only a few of the films the studio has brought forward. For more, please visit www.vert-ent.com.

HAMLET premiered at the 52^nd Telluride Film Festival, 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, the BFI London Film Festival, and the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Director Aneil says of the film, “I read this adaptation and also went back to the original and realized that it spoke to a kind of filmmaking I thrive on – singular stories of humans that are unravelling. Hamlet is the ultimate version of that. Here is a person who is grieving and experiencing something wild and almost supernatural. The more I spent with the text, the more I realized this could actually be a very singular psychological portrait of a man in freefall. That made it very accessible and exciting for me.”

Ahmed says of HAMLET and working with writer Mike Lesslie, “I told Mike I wanted to base this Hamlet around a British Asian community. The feeling of being an outsider felt so present to me, and to all of us, so I wanted to bring it to life with a very certain specificity. It’s a theme that is very alive for immigrant communities – you have to make a lot of compromises to climb the ladder.”

HAMLET is a modern take on a classic yet delivers Shakespeare with the loyalty of the 1600s. The film is visually stunning, with music that adds another layer of storytelling with the already diverse cast front and center. It is an amazing combination that lends to the modern take on a classic story.

Ahmed carries the film from beginning to end and, as I said, has set himself up to be a memorable Hamlet. The entire film is beautiful, full of raw visceral emotions, and for anyone who adores the words of Shakespeare as much as I do, it is an amazing experience. The rest of the cast's reactions to Hamlet are equally jaw-dropping and adds to the richness of Ahmed’s performance. This is a must-see for this year!

In the end – there is a fine line between love and betrayal!

They are in a Twisted RELAY

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres from director David Mackenzie and Bleecker Street is the story of the chase and those who would stop the RELAY.

Sarah Grant (Lily James) is trying to find help for the problem she finds herself in. When the company she works for sends her into hiding, it is clear that she needs help. Given a phone number, Sarah is told that the person on the other end specializes in the help that she needs. The number she calls leads her to a service that relays messages between callers and help can be had for a price.

Ash (Riz Ahmed) is a fixer, someone who fixes problems that people find themselves dealing with and nowhere to turn which fits Sarah exactly. Explaining that her employee is lying about research that can hurt people, Ash makes it clear that they will never meet and that she must do everything he asks of her to make the problem go away. Right outside her apartment are ‘problems’ in the form of Dawson (Sam Worthington), Rosetti (Willa Fitzgerald), Ryan (Jared Abrahamson) and a few others who want what Sarah has.

That’s when Ash kicks into gear and send Dawson and his cohorts on a wild goose chase in ways they never thought possible. But as the group gets closer and closer, Ash finds himself growing closer to Sarah which can be deadly for them both. The thing is, will being a fixer be enough to get the job done?

Ahmed as Ash is clearly a man who knows how to play the game. Keeping the way he does business clever and undetectable it what has worked for him. Ahmed does an amazing job in this role but then again if you have ever seen THE NIGHT OF, THE OA, and FINGERNAILS it would be clear that this actor is a force whether he has a film full of lines or hardly any. It is his presence and ability to bring a certain mystery to his characters that I enjoy so much. In this film he once again provides that and the steadfast wonderment of which way his character is going to take us.

James as Sarah is a woman clearly looking for a way out of a bad situation. Agreeing to all in order to get help from Ash is taking it step by step to keep the van from coming any closer to her. This is a straight forward role for James but, at the same time, it is as diverse as all the characters that she has played. From iconic roles such as playing Cinderella to the vivacious Rose MacClare in the successful series Downton Abby, James makes it clear that her choices are intentional. Playing Sarah is a chance to dive into mystery, suspense and twists that make for a tension making film.

Worthington as Dawson is a man on a mission and nothing or no one is going to get in his way. Not experiencing anyone like Ash before, it is fun watching his character run around like a chicken with its head cut off. Worthington can play the tough guy with the best of them but as Dawson he adds sarcasm that had me laughing a few times. Nothing like being a problem with a sense of humor.

Shout out to Fitzgerald and Abrahamson add to the problems that seem to be plaguing Sarah. They are equally as on the case as Dawson and follow his lead – not always to the best places.

Other cast include Pun Bandhu as Lee. Eisa Davis as Wash, Matthew Maher as Hoffman, Seth Barrish as Morel, Jamil Haque as Tariq, Victor Garber as McVie

Bleecker Street is a New York City film company that has brought outstanding films to the public. Their library includes TRUMBO, DENIAL, THE LOST CITY OF Z, BEIRUT, HOTEL MUMBAI, ORDINARY LOVE and THE ROADS NOT TAKEN. For more information on the titles from Bleeker Street please visit www.bleeckerstreetmedia.com.

Director Mackenzie says of the characters Ash and Sarah, “These two outsiders must work together (never meeting or hearing each other, communicating through an old but still functioning method designed for the deaf) to safely remove the threat and allow a small semblance of Sarah’s old life to return, away from the city, somewhere where she can build a new life. Ash ruefully acknowledges her desire for normality, even though that is no longer an option for him – his own life having been obliterated by the consequences of his past actions and decisions.”

RELAY is a mixture of action, suspense, mystery, and twists that just keep coming. Ahmed, James and Worthington lead the chase. This is not a story that is going to be easy to figure out, oh no, director Mackenzie wasn’t about to make it so. Instead, it’s like his little playground of tension filled fun, daring us all to come along and pick up the clues he leaves but even that isn’t going to be easy. It’s probably clear that I love films that surprise me and RELAY did just that.

Buckle up because this film is going to keep you going until the very end. In the almost two hours running time, there isn’t a moment to take a breath because, like the characters in the film, there also isn’t much time to do anything else but stay one step ahead!

In the end – never break your own rules!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He Believes in the ENCOUNTER

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres and then to Prime Video from writer/director Michael Pearce, Joe Barton and Amazon Original Studios is the story of the ENCOUNTER.

Malik Khan (Riz Ahmed) is a veteran of the Marine Corps, and he has returned to take sons Jay (Lucian-River Chauhan) and Bobby (Aditya Geddada) on a trip. The boys soon realize their father is running from something, believing that there is an alien bug that has come to Earth. The only way to know if a person is infected is by their eyes and the only protection is bug spray.

Where Malik is really taking his two boys is a military base in Arizona where he convinces them they will be safe until a cure is found. On the road he begins to train them to survive. Keeping the boys out of site, eldest boy Jay discovers that he and his brother have been, in fact, kidnapped from their mother Piya (Janina Gavankar) and law enforcement are looking for them.

Jay also realizes that something is wrong with his father when he makes a call and talks to Hattie (Octavia Spencer) and more of the truth comes out. As the stressors become more obvious and the world begins to catch up with them, Malik must decide how he is going to handle the situation and Jay decides who his father really is.

Ahmed as Khan is a man who knows that the aliens are on Earth and causing destruction wherever they go no matter the species. Taking his sons to a safer place is his only goal and nothing is going to stop him – or no one. Ahmed gives us the performance of a man split between the war world he served and protecting his family.

Chauhan as Jay is a strong young man who believes in his father and trusts that what he is doing is right. Knowing that the trip starts off the ways he always thought it would be like, it is what comes after that is so much for a young man. Chauhan portrays his character as a young man who can not let his father down and stands firm till the end.

Geddada as Bobby is a boy who does what all boys do, be rambunctious, inquisitive, and loud. The road trip with him is not easy on Malik which puts the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of Jay, as if he does not have enough to contend with.

Spencer as Hattie wants something better for Malik and wants him to bring the boys home before things get out of hand. Spencer gives us a caring woman who wants to do her job naturally but sees Malik as more than just another man in trouble with the law.

Amazon Prime offers television shows and original content included in its Amazon Prime subscription. Original programs such as CARNIVAL ROW, THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE, and THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL are hit shows. Coming soon is the next series with GOLIATH starring Billy Bob Thornton and it promises to another successful and intense series.

ENCOUNTER has been nominated in four categories by the British Independent Film Awards for Best Actor – Riz Ahmed, Best Supporting Actor – Lucian River Chauhan, Best Music – Jed Kurzel and Best Sound – Andrew Stirk, Paul Davies, Morgan Muse, Bernard O’Reilly and Julian Howarth.

The film gives us a look at Malik’s thought process regarding the aliens, how it is spread and the only protection for human beings. He is dedicated to saving his sons and making sure no one tries to stop him. There is such a dynamic here between father and sons as the eldest has held on to a love for his father that is based on wanting things to be as he believes but the youngest has very little to go on other than Malik is his dad.

They begin to learn about each other but even that is based on a mixture of wanting to protect his sons from the past and the present and two young men who see their father as a hero. Ahmed goes in many directions with his role and each of them are strong – until this character can no longer tell lie from truth.

ENCOUNTER is a mixture of science fiction and the realities of human beings who have seen and been a part of something so traumatic that it changes their life’s perspective. Although there is a mixture of premises here that I have seen before, it does not change ENCOUNTER being an emotionally charged film.

In the end – it is in what we believe!

 

VENOM Strikes

Jeri Jacquin

Coming this Friday from director Ruben Fleischer and Marvel is the next superhero with the help of VENOM.

One night a space probe crashes to earth owned by the Life Foundation and tubes containing life forms are collected. Transported to a lab, Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed) is thrilled at what is brought back.

Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) is a reporter who goes out of his way to report on issues that need his style of uncovering. Good at what he does, it gives him time to enjoy his relationship with his lawyer love Anne (Michelle Williams).

He is given his next assignment to interview Drake about the Life Foundation and realizes that Anne knows a little about his business. Nosing onto her laptop, he finds information about Drake that he uses the next day during their interview. Much to Drake’s dismay, he ends the interview sending Brock out on his ear.

That move cost Drake his job and his relationship as Anne also loses her job and refuses to forgive him. Everything he worked for is gone in a second at the payback hands of Drake.

Inside, Dr. Dora Skirth (Jenny Slate) who is working with Drake’s research and the creatures that he obtained. Watching what he is doing, she is horrified that Drake is using human beings for testing. She reaches out to Eddie for help in exposing what is happening and he gets inside the Life Foundation to see for himself. What he doesn’t expect is to be leaving wearing a symbiote suit!

Introducing himself as Venom to Eddie, it is clear that it is the beginning of a strange relationship in an effort to stop Drake and what he is doing. Eddie is being affected physically and looks to Anne and beau Dr. Dan (Reid Scott) for help. Venom knows there are other symbiotes and needs Eddie to stop the leader Riot.

Drake just wants his ‘property’ back and sends head of security Reese (Scott Haze) to round up Eddie. When Drake decides that it’s time to erase humanity, he takes on Riot and now, more than ever, Eddie and Venom have to bring it to save the world.

Hardy as Eddie is going to win over people in the role because of the humor he brings to the role. The relationship he has with Venom is unique because of their ability to communicate and both have a line of sarcasm that is entertaining. Of course I’d prefer Hardy in his role in the television series Taboo, the cable series Peaky Blinders and the film DUNKIRK. It isn’t that I think his role in VENOM isn’t good, it was just predictable and I think I’m getting to old to sit in a theatre for predictable.

Williams as Anne broke character and lost me the minute Anne broke up with Eddie with a simple walk away. Yea girl, I believe you’d do that in real life…nope! This role just didn’t do her any favors (and neither did that short Catholic school girl skirt she ran around in) but I’m sure we’ll see it in the next VENOM movie.

Ahmed as Drake is instantly unlikeable but at least he hasn’t a problem with that. There isn’t anything redeeming about his character and Ahmed makes sure we see that without batting an eye about it. I like Ahmed and have seen his roles become more and more expanded. The mini-series The Night Of truly gave Ahmed the lift and notice that I was thrilled for.

Slate as Dr. Skirth is daring to go against a powerful boss and it will cost her. Scott as Dr. Dan is oddly alright with an ex-boyfriend showing up out of nowhere but has a reason to freak out when something wicked jumps out of an MRI machine. Haze as Treece is a shark on wheels and his goal is to do whatever it takes to get Eddie and Drake’s extra-terrestrial guest back into his lab.

Other cast include Peggy Lu as Mrs. Chen, Malcolm C. Murray as Lewis Donate, Sope Aluko as Dr. Collins, Wayne Pere as Dr. Emerson, and an appearance by Stan Lee.

VENOM is an action packed film filled with humor, car chases, creatures and sarcasm from both humans and not-so-human. In the vein of all Marvel movies I’m sure fans will be happy to see another character go from page to screen.

For me, I went along for the ride but didn’t feel like I got anywhere by the end of it (and trust me I have to call my son now and ask about a character I don’t know about). This film seemed so busy trying to make the audience laugh while keeping the action going, it seems someone forgot to write a strong script.

What kept me going was Tom Hardy (and not just because I adore him). It’s because he held his own in a film that needed to be held up by something good. He made me laugh and jump once or twice. I feel like this is a dark DEADPOOL and lawd knows no one, not even Mr. Hardy, is going to take my heart away from that man in a red suit (and we aren’t talking about Santa Claus).

So go, enjoy and move onto the next Marvel movie. When Venom 2 comes out, let us hope that Marvel will get their storyline together and remember that special effects don’t make an entire film.

In the end – embrace your inner anti-hero!