Theater

Add one more to the best Shakespeare on film

A very fun list comes down the pike, courtesy of the Time Out New York’s film and theater critics: the top 25 Shakespeare film adaptations. As with all lists, the whole point is to elicit sputtering comments along the lines of “I can’t believe you missed this underrated masterpiece!” and “How dare you include this turkey?” Fine, I’ll take the bait.

Contrary to the commenters, I’m happy the list excluded Franco Zeffirelli’s “The Taming of the Shrew” — for Taylor/Burton camp, I’ll take “Boom!” any day (and that’s another stage adaptation, to boot: of Tennessee Williams’ “The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore”).

But I’m bummed Grigori Kozintsev’s “King Lear” didn’t make the cut because I feel everybody should know about this masterpiece. Produced in the Soviet Union in 1971, it is one of the most visually striking movies of that period. Kozintsev worked from a translation by Boris Pasternak, and Dmitri Shostakovich’s score isn’t too shabby either. But what will stay with you are Kozintzev’s compositions: what an eye for scope and angles! And those crane shots!

There are some good clips on YouTube, including the storm scene and the scene when Cordelia sees her father asleep at the French camp. Also there’s a castle on fire, thunderous music, dogs, horses, birds of prey and lots of extras: eat your heart out, “Lord of the Rings”!