Hamnet

[LlynTegid]

Hoping to see it at the weekend, Jessie Buckley has been excellent in anything of hers I have seen.

Will be interested in other's thoughts once they have seen it.

I started reading the book before I knew about the film and was finding it a chore. Trying again now as I like to read the book before seeing a film version and enjoying the book but it took some concentration to get into it. I need to hurry up and finish it. I loved normal people and wanted to cheer Paul Mescal on but thought Gladiator was dreadful, really hope Hamnet is better!

@teaandtoastwouldbenice oh gosh I had blocked Paul Mescal in Gladiator from my memory ! I really don’t think he has the gravitas for big dramatic roles and perhaps I would have enjoyed Jessie Buckleys performance more of it had been more of an ensemble piece which it should have been, rather than so much screen time spent on her every nuance.

I really don’t get the adulation for Paul Mescal. I thought he was bland in this, bland in Aftersun and bland in All of us Strangers.

This review sums up how I feel about it https://www.bbc.co.uk/culture/article/20251126-hamnet-review but the Guardian review was 5 stars and gushing in its praise. It’s a real marmite film and it was excellent to see the film theatre full on a Sunday night showing with a definitely younger audience.

My 15 year old DS today said he really wants to see it. I did not tell him i'd already rejected the whole idea inside my own head!

So we might see it this weekend. He adores cinema and is unashamedly a bit of a weeper when it comes to movies so I'll be interested as to his take.

And I might be able to contribute from a position of actually having seen it rather than rejecting it out of hand due to sheer prejudice against the book as i have done on this thread.

Saw it yesterday evening, whilst it was not as exciting and interesting for me as recent Oscar winners I have seen such as The Favourite and Parasite, I am sure it was get many nominations and some awards. I agree with those who were unimpressed by Paul Mescal's performance, but thought Jessie Buckley and the child actors were very good.

Also felt the script was credible, a lot of period pieces have words or expressions that seem too modern and recent.

Loved him in Aftersun. Didn't love him in Hamnet.

@berlinbaby2025 you’ve described my thoughts on Paul Mescal exactly! I’m honestly still puzzled by the praise for Aftersun.

What is it we’re missing??

Same.

Apparently both Buckley and Mescal are tipped for Oscar nominations - we will find out at lunchtime today. I just don’t get it with Paul Mescal, there was literally nothing remarkable or transcending about his performance on this film.

I thought it was incredible.. beautiful story showing how differently we grieve and love.

I thought he was amazing, he got the emotion spot on. I really felt the pain and love through the screen.

No Oscar nomination for Paul Mescal

I’m disappointed for him. I thought he was fantastic.

I found his performance in Aftersun really affecting and I’ve watched All of Us Strangers more than once which is very rare for me! I find him quite understated as an actor which I really enjoy but can see how some would find him a bit bland. Not seen Gladiator.

I enjoyed Hamnet but not as much as the book which I loved. I felt the narrative structure of the book was better at helping us build a connection to Hamnet and Judith, and to understand the more ethereal parts of Agnes’ character. Whereas in the film I felt we barely got a chance to get to know them before they were dying. Also the Hamlet section of the film I started off being very hmm about but actually it’s the part that has left me with the most to think about. So I guess the film did its job on that score as more than simply a piece of entertainment.

I’ve been thinking about the film ever since I saw it. I agree @FrothyCothy I found his performance understated, and that’s what I like about it. You hit the nail on the head for me. I like that his character is not front and centre, it’s in keeping with the book and as an actor his performance therefore worked for me. I’m disappointed he didn't get an Oscar nod.

I‘ve not seen Sinners because I’m not good with horror at all. But, I think I may need to find a way to watch it! Off to see if there is a Sinners thread to persuade me.

There is, @soupmaker - and it very much makes the case for it being a film with a horror element that you, and I, can watch and adore even if we usually run away from the horror genre.

This is the thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/films/5318013-sinners?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

Right having read that thread I think I’m in. I managed Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, although the trailers before it were horrific and I had to close my eyes for most of them!

I see Noah Jupe is playing Romeo in West End from March.

Yes, I looked up the two Jupe boys after reading this thread, and noticed that. Not surprising.

I saw it with my young adult daughter, I cried a lot and had to hold her for a very long time after, then we discussed how her brother looked like Hamnet when he was young. More crying. Was I being emotionally manipulated, probably but I had to give him a massive hug when I got home too ( he was gaming and looked slightly non plussed!) . How did people live in a time when there precious children could be snatched away so easily

They still do, though. Just less so in the UK.

I loved the book and really liked the film.
But if I hadn't read the book I'm not sure I would have liked the film as much. I was sort of filling in bits from my knowledge of the book, which made the whole thing feel more substantial.

Both actors were fantastic, as was the the little boy playing Hamnet.

Saw this at the weekend and thought it was fantastic.
jt was emotional through the obvious bits.
the end scenes at the globe absolutely got me though. I was finding it hard not to sob out loud! Had to hold my breath and look away from the screen several times to try and not sob. I managed to hold it in with silent tears. Jessie Buckley was utterly wonderful.