The Merchant of Venice

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The Merchant of Venice

R,

2004,

2h 11m,

Comedy/

Drama/

Romance

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72%

125 Reviews

Tomatometer

72%

10,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

125 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In 16th-century Venice, Bassanio (Joseph Fiennes) hopes to wed Portia (Lynn Collins). But to have a chance at winning her hand in marriage, he needs to have a lot of money -- a critical resource he lacks. And because Bassanio's rich friend Antonio (Jeremy Irons) is unable to help, he's forced to make a deadly deal with pitiless moneylender Shylock (Al Pacino). Bassanio will get his money -- and without paying interest. If he doesn't pay it back, however, he will owe Shylock a pound of his flesh.

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Critics Consensus

A respectable if uneven take on the Bard's The Merchant of Venice.

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Will Self

London Evening Standard

Dec 20, 2017

I've decided to be merciful to Michael Radford's meat and-potatoes, 21st-century, politically correct, GCSE-student version of The Merchant of Venice.

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David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

Jul 10, 2009

3/5

The text is wonderful, Radford's film has some fine performances from Jeremy Irons and Joseph Fiennes, and he makes good use of Venice locations.

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David Rooney

Variety

Jul 4, 2008

Pacino is at least dynamic, something harder to say about the women in the cast.

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Steve Cramer

The List

Apr 23, 2019

2/5

Al Pacino's Shylock is strong, intense, and powerful, yet he gets little support from the cast.

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Dorothy Woodend

The Tyee (British Columbia)

Aug 24, 2017

Lovely to look at, but like the famous caskets that Portia uses to test her suitors, its very beauty hides a weird core.

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Don Groves

sbs.com.au

Jan 3, 2011

3/5

Pacino seeks his pound of flesh as a tragic outsider.

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Kylo G

Sep 19, 2017

The Merchant of Venice is an original and masterfully done adaptation of the Shakespeare's original piece, filled with emotions and a powerful acting performance by Al Pacino.

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George W

Mar 30, 2017

Al Pacino's performance as Shylock is complex, deep and powerful, as is Irons' performance as Antonio, but whenever they're not on screen, the movie loses steam and it can get pretty generic. It should be seen for the gritty portrayal of Venice and Al Pacino's Shylock. It's so good, that it might just be enough.

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Michael Radford

Director

Al Pacino

Shylock

Jeremy Irons

Antonio

Joseph Fiennes

Bassanio

Lynn Collins

Portia

Zuleikha Robinson

Jessica

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Synopsis

In 16th-century Venice, Bassanio (Joseph Fiennes) hopes to wed Portia (Lynn Collins). But to have a chance at winning her hand in marriage, he needs to have a lot of money -- a critical resource he lacks. And because Bassanio's rich friend Antonio (Jeremy Irons) is unable to help, he's forced to make a deadly deal with pitiless moneylender Shylock (Al Pacino). Bassanio will get his money -- and without paying interest. If he doesn't pay it back, however, he will owe Shylock a pound of his flesh.

Director: Michael Radford
Producer: Cary Brokaw, Michael Cowan, Barry Navidi, Jason Piette
Screenwriter: William Shakespeare
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Avenue Pictures Productions, Istituto Luce Cinecittà, Delux Productions, Arc Light Films, Navidi-Wilde Productions Ltd.
Rating: R (Some Nudity)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 29, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 6, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.8M
Runtime: 2h 11m
Sound Mix: Surround

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