Cymbeline - C

Rated R, 85 minutes
Wes's Grade: C

Dark, contemporary retelling of Shakespeare's tragedy "Cymbeline" a noble failure

"Cymbeline" is a dark, contemporary re-imagining of the classic and tragic Shakespeare play (which some, interestingly, view as a romantic comedy). It's certainly ambitious and an intriguing, but it's execution isn't a smooth one and mostly seems like a "Sons of Anarchy" ripoff.  This version is about a vicious, take-no-prisoners war between dirty cops (including Ethan Hawke as Iachimo)  and an outlaw biker gang. Now, drug Lord Cymbeline (Harris) is driven to desperate measures. Directed by Michael Almereyda, who did this thing 15 years ago in his version of "Hamlet," also with Hawke, "Cymbeline" is a mildly engaging adaptation with a great cast, but this contemporary update of Shakespeare's play simply just rings false. Almereyda does preserve the Bard's original dialogue ala "Romeo + Juliet," but with much less charm or intrigue as that film version, not to mention "Cymbeline" is one of Shakespeare's lesser plays, though it's far better than this stale drama, some of which works, much of which doesn't. The cast makes a noble effort, including Harris as Cymbeline, envisioned now a drug kingpin, along with Dakota Johnson, as an emotional Imogen in a part filmed before her current blockbuster "Fifty Shades of Grey." However, I had trouble connecting with Hawke's Iachimo, in a part that seems expanded here from the original play, which seems now much like his "Training Day" role, and Harris needs a more regal, bad-ass queen than Milla Jovovich, who doesn't seem all that comfortable here speaking Shakespeare's dialogue. Fortunately, "Cymbeline" is short and sweet, and while its efficiency helps, it struggles in providing coherent plotting and a smooth narrative flow, particularly in the heavy-handed final act and climax. "Cymbeline" may be worth a look for Shakespeare aficionados, but otherwise you're better off watching a few episodes of "Sons of Anarchy," which this adaptation is clearly trying to mimic.