The Hollow Crown - BBC 2012

The Hollow Crown is BBC's  excellent filming of the Shakespeare's second Henriad (Richard II with Henry IV's rise to power, Henry IV, parts I and II, and Henry V). This production manages to stay true to Shakespeare's spirit while making it accessible to modern audience, people who used to hate Bard's work might find themselves converted. The cast is really superb consisting of the young stars like Ben Whishaw, Rory Kinnear, Michelle Dockery, Tom Hiddleston and true legends like Patrick Stewart, David Suchet, Geraldine Chaplin, Julie Walters, John Hurt and Simon Russell Beale.

Out of four episodes first one - Richard II, although really good is my least favorite, the reason for that is Ben Whishaw's mannerism, his portrayal of the king's gentleness, vulnerability and androgyny is sometimes to over the top for my taste. Fortunately the rest of the cast is doing magnificent job, Rory Kinnear is particularly good  as Bolingbroke and provides a great counterbalance for ethereal Whishaw.

The rest of the episodes are for me flawless. Jeremy Irons is convincing and  moving as ailing, guilt ridden Henry IV, to whom his eldest son and heir Hal is giving a lot of grief and worry with his reckless and improper actions. Hal the future Henry V is played brilliantly by Tom Hiddleston, in his portrayal of the young prince he gives him true humanity and warmth, thus Hal's progression from rebellious youth to a hero and leader who can inspire his people is very believable. After seeing Coriolanus and The Hollow Crown I think that Tom Hiddleston has an amazing potential and range as an actor and I hope Hollywood won't suck him in and stop him from doing theatre because it would be a great loss.

Another great performance in The Hollow Crown is delivered by Simon Russell Beale, his Falstaff is not just a comical figure, he is flawed, vain and greedy but also very pitiable and pathetic, you can't help but feel sorry for him.

This is not a high budget, sugary, CGI packed production in here it's all about the acting and acting is first class, get the DVD and see it for yourself.