A modern Hamlet in New York: a bold adaptation, but missing Shakespeare’s wit?

The world’s most adapted writer and poet, Shakespeare, but did humanity really need this adaptation?

This 2000 adaptation of Hamlet takes medieval Denmark and transposes it into present-day New York. Young Hamlet, played by Ethan Hawke, is reeling from the recent death of his father. His mother has married his uncle, who has taken over the company called Denmark.

Yet, the entire film is performed in Shakespearean English. Despite being set in today’s world, the adaptation remains faithful to the original, with monologues and dialogues from centuries-old royal settings delivered on screen, word for word.

The film’s writer and director, Michael Almereyda, clearly keeps a distance between the work and modern-day viewers—even while creating a contemporary version of Hamlet within the framework of capitalism. Because of this, I couldn’t fully immerse myself in the film. Despite reading Hamlet with excitement, curiosity, smiles, and tears, I found it hard to make it to the end of this movie.

By turning the cinema into a stage play, Almereyda missed the chance to create a genuinely witty, New York-centered adaptation of Hamlet. The film lacks any of the wit, charm, or sharp intelligence that makes Hamlet so endearing. Poor Ethan Hawke is left portraying a modern young man, obsessed with art and slowly losing his mind, rather than the sharp, nuanced Hamlet of Shakespeare.

To give credit where it’s due, all the actors put their best into their Shakespearean performances, but unfortunately, this alone couldn’t save the film. Rather than translating Shakespeare to New York, it feels more like a collection of scenes designed to bring Shakespeare’s storytelling into the present day.