Measure for Measure (2019 film)

• Hugo Weaving as Duke
• Harrison Gilbertson as Claudio
• Megan Smart as Jaiwara
• Mark Leonard Winter as Angelo
• Daniel Henshall as Lukey
• Fayssal Bazzi as Farouk
• Doris Younane as Karima
• Malcolm Kennard aa Sutherland
• Gerald Lepkowski as Boyle

The film is loosely based on the Shakespeare play, but with the story set in a housing commission block of flats in Melbourne.

Co-writer, director, producer and star Damian Hill died on 22 September 2018,{{cite news |last1=Quinn |first1=Karl |title=Australian actor Damian Hill, star of Pawno, dead at 42 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/australian-actor-damian-hill-star-of-pawno-dead-at-42-20180924-p505l3.html |access-date=2021-08-26 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=2018-09-24}} having taken his own life two days before filming was due to start. The event shocked and traumatised all involved with the film, especially co-writer Paul Ireland and actor Mark Leonard Winter, who were close friends with Hill. Winter assumed Hill's role as the drug dealer Angelo in the film, and filming resumed a week later.{{cite interview| first=Hugo| last=Weaving | interviewer-last=Russell | interviewer-first=Stephen A. | title=Hugo Weaving wanted to star in Australian movie The Rooster to shift taboos about men and mental health | website=ABC News (Australia) | date=20 February 2024 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-21/hugo-weaving-interview-the-rooster-australian-movie/103484088 | access-date=25 February 2024}}

The film, which was supported by the Melbourne International Film Festival Premier fund, was dedicated to Hill.

Measure for Measure premiered at the 2019 Melbourne International Film Festival,{{cite web | title=MIFF Archive | website= MIFF 2024 | url=https://miff.com.au/festival-archive/films/30621 | access-date=25 February 2024}} where the Damian Hill Independent Film was awarded in Hill's honour.{{cite news |last1=Quinn |first1=Karl |title=Damian Hill the absent star of Measure for Measure world premiere at MIFF |url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/movies/damian-hill-the-absent-star-of-measure-for-measure-world-premiere-at-miff-20190803-p52dj0.html | access-date=25 February 2024 |work=The Age |date=2019-08-03}}

In June 2020, it was announced that the North American distribution rights to the film were acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films.{{cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|title=Samuel Goldwyn Picks Up Hugo Weaving Drama 'Measure For Measure'|date=June 30, 2020|website=Deadline Hollywood|url=https://deadline.com/2020/06/samuel-goldwyn-picks-up-hugo-weaving-drama-measure-for-measure-1202973864/|accessdate=December 27, 2022}} The film was released on demand and digital on September 4, 2020.{{cite web|author=Stage Tube|title=VIDEO: Watch Hugo Weaving in the Trailer for MEASURE FOR MEASURE|date=August 24, 2020|website=BroadwayWorld|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/VIDEO-Watch-Hugo-Weaving-in-the-Trailer-for-MEASURE-FOR-MEASURE-20200824|accessdate=December 27, 2022}}

{{as of|February 2024}} Measure for Measure has a 36% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 28 reviews.{{cite web|title=Measure for Measure |website=Rotten Tomatoes|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/measure_for_measure_2020|access-date=25 February 2024}}

Robin Holabird of KUNR gave the film a positive review and wrote, "By all measures, this Measure for Measure totals up into an absorbing cinematic experience."{{cite web|last=Holabird|first=Robin|title=New Update Of Shakespeare's 'Measure For Measure' Stands Out: Robin's Movie Review|date=September 11, 2020|website=KUNR|url=https://www.kunr.org/robin-holabirds-film-review/2020-09-11/new-update-of-shakespeares-measure-for-measure-stands-out-robins-movie-review#stream/0|accessdate=December 27, 2022}}

Josiah Teal of Film Threat gave the film an 8 out of 10 and wrote, "...the film discusses issues such as multiculturalism, gender, drugs, and religion in a way that is increasingly relevant in 2020 without ever feeling heavy-handed."{{cite web|last=Teal|first=Josiah|title=Measure for Measure|date=September 4, 2020|website=Film Threat|url=https://filmthreat.com/reviews/measure-for-measure/|accessdate=December 27, 2022}}

Monica Castillo of RogerEbert.com awarded the film two stars and wrote, "However, there's a lot going on in the movie without ever really exploring those topics beyond a cursory mention."{{cite web|last=Castillo|first=Monica|title=Measure for Measure|date=September 4, 2020|website=RogerEbert.com|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/measure-for-measure-movie-review-2020|accessdate=December 27, 2022}}

John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a negative review and wrote, "Shakespeare scholars have often labeled Measure for Measure a 'problem play,' a term that has been given multiple meanings; Ireland’s tonally ambivalent film fits one of those meanings pretty well."{{cite magazine|last=DeFore|first=John|title='Measure for Measure': Film Review|date=September 3, 2020|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/measure-for-measure-film-review-4054911/|accessdate=December 27, 2022}}

Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times also gave the film a negative review and wrote, "Convoluted and ponderously paced, Measure for Measure relies too often on sentimental music and narrative shorthand."{{cite news|last=Catsoulis|first=Jeannette|title='Measure for Measure' Review: Rising by Sin in Melbourne|date=September 3, 2020|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/03/movies/measure-for-measure-review.html|accessdate=December 27, 2022}}

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|8846706}}
• {{rotten-tomatoes|measure_for_measure_2020}}

{{Measure for Measure}}

Category:2019 drama films

Category:2019 films

Category:Australian drama films

Category:Films based on works by William Shakespeare

Category:Works based on Measure for Measure

Category:2010s Australian films