Finally got to see Julie Taymor's film version of The Tempest, and enjoyed it immensely. She takes a lot of liberties in some ways, but everything is done with real intelligence and style. The treatment of the play's songs, for instance, I found very fresh and interesting. (I wonder if there's another work of literature that comes so close to exposing the essence of music.) In fact, all of the thematic content resonates really strongly. There are some terrific performances as well, with Ben Whishaw as Ariel (his John Keats in Bright Star from 2009 was equally excellent) and Djimon Hounsou as Caliban standing out in particular. Also liked Russell Brand's Trinculo a lot, and Felicity Jones' Miranda was very strong. Her listening ability (crucial in Shakespearean acting) points to a big future. Some of the bigger names, Helen Mirren, Chris Cooper and David Strathairn, were surprisingly reserved in their interpretations now that I think about it, but I enjoyed them as well. I'm going to watch it again soon, and write more about it at that point, but I can certainly recommend it right now. Check it out as soon as you can, and the same goes for her version of Titus Andronicus (Titus from 1999).

I'm completely baffled by the fact that the new film version of The Tempest, directed by Julie Taymor, appears to not be opening in theatrical release in Montreal. I hope I'm wrong, and it's just been delayed, but it doesn't appear so. Such a thing can't help but raise questions about the level of our society's cultural literacy. It's hard to believe that a film version of a unique and spectacular masterpiece, with a dazzling cast, and directed by one of the most talented of film-makers isn't even being given a chance to find an audience in a city like this one. And I'm not in any way placing the blame on young people when I refer to cultural literacy; it's not the fault of young people - they aren't the ones making decisions such as these. Rather it's the generation older than theirs, people of my age, who are clearly more concerned with money than content, who are responsible. I've spent enough time teaching in high schools to know that young people aren't interested in reading or seeing nonsense, and given the opportunity and the choice they will always opt to be engaged by superior work. But they're too infrequently being given that choice, which is sad. And baffling.