Posted by Glen at inktomi2-bir.server.ntl.com on November 29, 2000 at 16:33:56:
In Reply to: Just a small thought: Shakespeare + Mr.Smith? posted by dreed on November 29, 2000 at 16:30:33:
: If this has been discussed before, I apologize, but I was wondering if either Kevin Smith or any of the other directors associated with View Askew had ever considered doing their own film version of a Shakespeare tragedy?
: Having watched and read Mr. Smith's work on film and paper, I have personally concluded that he is one of the finest writers of dialogue today. I have loved the works of Shakespeare all of my life, and I believe the greatest part of any Shakespeare play is the dialogue involved.
: Too often, any Shakespeare play that is translated onto the film medium has as its focus the characters, or the settings, or the action involved. I believe this is lamentable, for it ignores the depth and sheer vibrancy of the written text; and to me, this is nowhere better seen than in Shakespeare's tragedies, where the comedy is always downplayed for the melodrama when it is filmed.
: I believe Kevin Smith could and would do justice to the dialogue found in, for example, King Lear; I believe the fooi in his hands could truly trascend the one-dimensional character he has been portrayed as being in films before, and become the master of irony he truly is. While I realize Mr. Smith would be working with existing dialogue, he perhaps could update parts of it to make it smoother, and his directing would definitely emphasize the fragile humanity so important to the Bard's tragedies.
: I think, from what little I have read on this website, that anyone involved in View Askew could do Shakespeare justice, as all here seem quite talented and possessed of the intellectual and individuality requirements to not paint Shakespeare's tragedies as one note farces, but as rich and vibrant testimonials to humanity's frailty.
: Please let me know what you think of this idea, Mr. Smith, anyone involved with View Askew, and anyone on the board. I hope everyone is well and take care!