Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Ophelia comes of age as lady-in-waiting for Queen Gertrude, and her singular spirit captures Hamlet's affections. As lust and betrayal threaten the kingdom, Ophelia finds herself trapped between true love and controlling her own destiny.
Ophelia retells Hamlet from the titular character's perspective, a premise with inherent interest, but the execution leans heavily on familiar romantic drama conventions and softens Shakespeare's tragedy into a more conventional arc. Daisy Ridley brings earnestness to the lead role and the supporting cast is solid, though performances rarely transcend the material. The cinematography is genuinely striking, with lush English countryside and castle interiors that give the film a rich visual identity. Novelty earns a mid score as the feminist retelling angle is intriguing but not wholly original by 2019 standards. The ending diverges most problematically from audience expectations, opting for an unconvincing resolution that undercuts the emotional weight the film had built.