Hamnet

I don't know that we've seen a weepy in the theater as effective as "Hamnet" this decade. Truly one of the first films in a long time that nearly brought me to tears in the theater.

A compelling take on Shakespeare's possible inspiration for his masterwork, "Hamlet", that takes plenty of liberties with its history, but always feels genuine in its approach and depiction of the near constant tragic and mystical undercurrents of English life in Shakespearean times. Chloe Zhao, of "Nomadland" acclaim and "The Eternals" ire, has put together a beautiful film. To me, clearly her best so far as well, as "Nomadland" did not strike the same chord in my household as it did with the Academy in 2020.

Her decision to cut against the grain and shoot a period piece on digital actually ironically helps "Hamnet" visually stand out from the rest of the field. The visual clarity here is stunning. The vibrant greens and reds pop in ways we just don't see on film. When virtually all of the rest of the Best Picture field is 35 or 70MM, the look of a 4K Arri Alexa is actually helping give "Hamnet" a unique visual language for an auteur film in 2025. Something I could never have guessed I'd be saying this year back in 2010, when digital and 3D seemed like the only way we'd see films on the big screen going forward.

If you're up for a good cry, "Hamnet" is well worth a watch. I will not be surprised by upsets delivered via "Hamnet" in some big categories on Oscar night. Jessie Buckley has seen acclaim in recent years, but this is a career performance, and I'm rooting for her to win Best Actress. Her performance was the most intense and effective of any I saw in 2025. - 9/10