Henry V (1989)

Directed by Kenneth Branagh. Starring Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Ian Holm, Brian Blessed, Alex McCowen, Paul Scofield, Michael Maloney, Richard Briers, Daniel Webb, Emma Thompson, Robert Stephens, James Larkin, Simon Shepherd, Judi Dench, Charles Kay, Christian Bale, Robbie Coltrane, Harold Innocent. [PG-13]

Passionate, full-blooded telling of Shakespeare’s historical drama about King Henry V and his campaign against France during the Hundred Years’ War. As star, writer and director, it’s Branagh’s show, a cinematic breakthrough after his training at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and youthful triumphs on the British stage; he shrewdly edited the screenplay from its lengthy source material (even incorporating flashback bits from the two Henry IV plays, which is how Falstaff (Coltrane) is able to make an appearance), emphasizing emotional clarity and grungy visual glamour. Fierce performances from Branagh and crew (special mention to Scofield as King Charles of France and Holm as Welshman Fluellen), spectacular depiction of the Battle of Agincourt rooted in mud and blood. Ever-reliable Shakespeare vet Jacobi tackles the major role of the “Chorus,” but the semi-experimental way he’s interjected into the proceedings can be distracting, especially in the name of verisimilitude. Rarely has the Bard come to life on film with the fire and immersion on display here, accessible to greenhorns and rewarding for the experts. Academy Award winner for Phyllis Dalton’s costuming.

90/100