Twelfth Night, or What You Will

TV Movie
1998
2h 43m

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

280

YOUR RATING

Comedy Drama Romance

Viola and her twin brother Sebastian are separated after a shipwreck on the coast of Illyria, and each believes the other drowned. Viola disguises herself as a male page named Cesario and en... Read allViola and her twin brother Sebastian are separated after a shipwreck on the coast of Illyria, and each believes the other drowned. Viola disguises herself as a male page named Cesario and enters the service of the duke Orsino. Orsino sends Cesario to court the reclusive lady Oliv... Read allViola and her twin brother Sebastian are separated after a shipwreck on the coast of Illyria, and each believes the other drowned. Viola disguises herself as a male page named Cesario and enters the service of the duke Orsino. Orsino sends Cesario to court the reclusive lady Olivia on his behalf, and various mistaken identities and infatuations result.

Writer
- William Shakespeare
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

280

YOUR RATING

Writer
- William Shakespeare
Stars

12User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos

Featured review

6/10

Helen Hunt fails to be humorous.

Creatively relocated to the orient, this Illyria stage comes across fairly well on screen. However, one of Shakespeare's meatiest female roles, Viola, is flaccidly and awkwardly occupied by Helen Hunt. Ms. Hunt, although very good in films such as "As Good As it Gets," simply stumbles on the language, allowing it to completely overwhelm any humor or drama that might eke out of her performance. This is a very mature comedy, the holiday of Twelfth Night itself a metaphor for the humor in the play that eventually sates and then sickens the audience. I recommend the recent film version starring Ben Kingsley and Helena Bonham Carter for a first-time viewing of Twelfth Night. After all, there is only one first time.