In 2004 the notable film director, Michael Radford, did a production of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. In this particular rendition of Shakespeare's original piece Radford employs Al Pacino as Shylock, Jeremy Irons as Antonio, Joseph Fiennes as Bassanio, Lynn Collins as Portia, Zuleikha Robinson as Jessica, Kris Marshall as Gratiano, Charlie Cox as Lorenzo, Heather Goldenhersh as Nerissa, Mackenzie Crook as Launcelot Gobbo, John Sessions as Salerio, Gregor Fisher as Solanio, Ron Cook as Old Gobbo, Allan Corduner as Tubal, Anton Rodgers as The Duke, and David Harewood as the Prince of Morocco.

Radford starts the movie off a little bit differently than Shakespeare does, but it makes for an interesting introduction. Unlike the actual text, Radford adds a twist and starts the film off with a boat of Christians and a giant cross sailing towards a dock. After that Radford very considerately gives the audience a typed segment of history of Jews in Venice in the sixteenth century. I think this written introduction is extremely beneficial to viewers who have not read the actual play because it puts the initial interaction with Antonio (Jeremy Irons) and Shylock (Al Pacino) into perspective. Especially when Antonio spits in Shylock's face in one of the opening scenes following the opening credits.

This is the first major character interaction in film. It is interesting to see Shylock in this first half of the movie because he seems reserved, and he does not reciprocates when Antonio mistreats him. The next big character dynamic that is introduced is the one between Jessica (Zuleikha Robinson) and Lorenzo (Charlie Cox), and the audience can see that amongst all of the chaotic interactions betwixt different characters in the film, this will be one sprung from impulsive young love. Next fair Portia (Lynn Collins) and her maid Nerissa (Heather Goldenhersh) are introducedbecause Radford flashes to a scene of Portia conversing with Nerissa in her majestic castle in Belmont.I like how Radford introduces all of the characters in their own scenes at the beginning of the film, because the audience is able to watch how all of the characters slowly interconnect. At first we assume the character Portia is simply another beautiful maiden, but little do we know she is the very voice of reason that saves Antonio's life at the climax of the film. Speaking of Shylock, I'd like to get back on track and revert us back the beginning of the movie.

After we are introduced to Portia and Nerissa Radford takes us to a very pivotal scene in my opinion involving Shylock and Bassanio (Joseph Fiennes). They are standing in an open market conversing about Antonio and a potential deal between Shylock and Antonio involving the lending of 3000 ducats. Not only is Shylock wrapping a piece of raw meat which is clearly for shadowing the bond he is going to create with Antonio, but also the audience learns so much about Shylock feels about Antonio truly in this particular scene. He mentions to Bassanio that Antonio is "a good man." And Shylock reveals that what he means by "a good man" is that Antonio is a "man of good credit."

The audience can feel that Shylock doe not really like Antonio, but Shylock is a businessman, and therefore he puts up with how Antonio treats him. Finally the next scene involves Shylock, Antonio, and Bassanio and we get to see Shylock really lay it on thick while he is conversing with Antonio. Shylock is aware that Antonio needs him, and so Shylock addresses being called a dog and being spit on by Antonio. Pacino does an incredible job depicting the anger that Shylock has for Antonio in this ironic business triangle. Shylock makes sure to mention that Antonio judges Shylock for usury because it is against Christian views, yet he is involved with it himself. The only reason that I feel an sort of sympathy or understanding for Antonio's hypocritical act in this scene is the fact that he is doing it out of pure love for Bassanio.

This scene brings in the dynamic of what the bond is to be, which of course is a pound of Antonio's flesh should he not be able to pay Shylock back the 3000 ducats in three months. We also see Antonio get quite cocky with Shylock saying he will be able to pay back "thrice" times that sum. Which in turn only fuels the anger and hunger for revenge later on in the film when Shylock becomes privy to the fact that Antonio's ships have wrecked and he will not be able to pay him back. "Wrong me not" are Shylock's final words to Antonio, and Pacino makes the words heavy as he speaks them to Antonio. Jessica and Launcelot (Mackenzie Crook) are brought out once the bond is set with Antonio and Shylock, and again the dilemma with Jessica and Lorenzo is brought to the table. We see betrayal begin to unfold with Launcelot and Jessica betraying Shylock.

The initial scene between the two characters is really only a budding of betrayal because Jessica asks Launcelot to give a note to Lorenzo for her, but the audience can see in Jessica's dark eyes that she has sealed her own fate. Then when Launcelot is desperately trying to get Shylock to go to dinner with Antonio so Jessica can flee and takes Shylock's money to set sail with Lorenzo. This is when the movie starts to build in intensity because when Shylock realizes what his daughter has done he reaches his breaking point. Shylock returns from dinner, and he weeps and deeps for his daughter and his ducats. This is the calm before the storm in my opinion, because the audience sees Shylock in a very feeble weak form as he weeps for his losses. This sadness fuels Shylock's need for revenge against Antonio. Reverting back to Portia, two potential suitors have picked the wrong chest (the Prince of Morocco, David Harewood and the Prince of Aragon, Antonio Gil), and we start to see Portia highly anticipate the arrival of Bassanio.

After Radford gives us the rundown on Portia he goes back to Shylock, and we see Pacino give one of the most amazing renditions of Shylock's famous "Hath a Jew not eyes" speech. As Shylock's spits the words of his speech, his anger is living and breathing in every syllable. This is when it is apparent that Shylock has reached a point of no return. Returning back to Portia, finally Bassanio arrives, and of course he chooses the right chest, and they are due to be married. I like this segment of the film because despite what is going on with Shylock, Portia and Bassanio and Gratiano give the film a comedic element that was meant to exist in the original text by Shakespeare. When Bassanio chooses the right chest and Gratiano (Kris Marshall) grabs Nerissa by the waist the audience laughs, and this comedy is necessary at this point in the film.

At this point Portia also gives Bassanio a ring and makes him swear to never take it off, and right after this heartfelt moment Lorenzo and Jessica show up in need of Bassanio because the trial between Antonio and Shylock is ensuing in Venice. This scene leads to the climax of the movie. The trial scene is one of the most symbolic and vital scenes in the entire film. Despite the fact that Antonio and all of his men are pleading with Shylock, and offering 6 thousand ducats to free Antonio of this payment, Shylock dutifully professes "I want my bond." Shylock is out for blood, and this scene made me quite anxious. If it weren't for fair Portia disguised as a doctor the scene would have gone quite differently. Alas Radford does an incredible job of keeping the audience on the edge of theirs seats as Shylock nearly sticks a dagger through Antonio's chest.

I think one of the most fantastic parts of the trial is that I realized Portia is not just a pretty face, but she is also the voice of reason. I also loved the importance that was placed on the rings in the movie. How clever Portia demands the ring from Bassanio while in disguise, and uses it to teach her new husband a lesson. Also I found it interesting that Radford shows Jessica with her mother's ring, despite the fact that Shakespeare does not include this detail in the original text. I think it is sweet, and it shows that Radford wants the audience to find resolution in the dilemma between Jessica and her father. All in all I LOVED this film. Each time I watched it, I made more connections. Five stars Radford!