William Shakespeare is undeniably the most noted writer in the English language. A recent BBC poll rated Hamlet the most important artwork of the millennium, and the play has been put to film at least 43 times (Behrens and Rosen 711). Franco Zeffirelli's version of the play accounts for one of these. Zeffirelli directed this film in 1990, and it's sets and costumes were Oscar-nominated. Mel Gibson played the part of Hamlet, a part that is widely denounced by critics. For example, critic David Denby, in his work "Review of Zeffirelli's Hamlet," explains why Gibson probably wasn't the best choice of actors for the part. .
The last scene of the film depicts the segment of the play in which four members of the royal family are killed. Laertes and Hamlet select their swords, and the king, Claudius, says he will drink to Hamlet's health, then he throws into the cup a pearl, which is actually poison. Gertrude drinks from the cup, dies, and Laertes strikes Hamlet with a poisoned sword. They manage to exchange swords, and Hamlet cuts Laertes with his own tainted weapon. Before Laertes" death, he says that king is to blame both for the poison on the sword and for the poison in the cup. Hamlet, in a fury, runs Claudius through with the poisoned sword and forces him to drink down the rest of the poisoned wine. Hamlet tells Horatio that he is dying and exchanges a last forgiveness with Laertes, who dies after forgiving Hamlet.
During this last scene, Hamlet is devastated by his sadness, and controlled by his feelings. Gibson doesn't appear to be feeling much of anything in this scene, especially not any deep sadness. Denby says, "This Hamlet is fidgety (Gibson wags his head back and forth as he talks), balled up much of the time though capable of sudden bursts of loose -limbed energy" (Denby 766). Gibson simply doesn't act the part of a prince in despair. He looks as if he is having to good of a time.
