Rent All Is True (2018)

Shakespeare With Writer's Block? - All Is True review by BG

Kenneth Branagh has acted in many of Shakespeare's plays, now he gets to play the bard himself, looking a bit like Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull. I liked the way it didn't focus on his play writing, and showed the tortured side of a man who has retired back home, mourning his dead son and discovering a shocking truth. Written by Ben Elton, who Branagh directed in Much Ado About Nothing, there is some wit but not a lot of comedy. Applaud the bard when he finally hurls abuse at a man who has always snubbed him. There's some nice imagery - - the bard walking in slow motion amongst autumn leaves blowing - - but probably fans of Fast and Furious will not go for it.

Not Upstart Crow - All Is True review by Pete W

Perhaps some reviewers saw that this film was scripted by Ben Elton and expected a feature length edition of Upstart Crow. That is indeed a very enjoyable comedy but this is a different beast. Taking what little we know about Shakespeare’s life, the film shows Will at the end of his life having retired from playwriting dealing with the earlier death of his son and some inappropriate behaviour for the time from his daughters.  The film really benefits from having such Shakespearean luminaries as Branagh, Dench and (briefly) Mckellan in the lead roles, bringing their understanding of Shakespeare and his plays. An enlightening interview with Branagh and other extras explain a lot about the film and its production. Special mention to make up for making Branagh almost unrecognisable as Will.

Disappointing - All Is True review by LA

A wonderful cast wasted, and one of the film's themes, the creation of a garden was a huge disappointment - could they not actually have created a beautiful Shakespearean garden instead of showing endless pointless shots of him digging?

Morose and depressing - All Is True review by Alphaville

This worthy film must be the dullest ever made about Shakespeare. It’s set in 1613, when he gave up writing to return home to his family in Stratford. To do what? Gardening. He and his wife mope about in candlelit interiors to plinky-plonk piano music. They mourn their dead son and fret about their grown-up daughters, one of whom is stroppy and annoying.

The script by Ben Elton is equally moribund and make you wish for something with the dynamism of his Upstart Crow sitcom about Shakespeare. Despite the film’s title, this feels no truer than the sitcom. Sometimes you can here the writer pontificating. There’s even a subplot, would you believe, of female empowerment.

Kenneth Branagh stars and directs and is disappointingly reverential and bland in both roles. For instance, he chooses to film with no camera movement except pan and tilt. Why? The film comes alive only in one scene, when Ian McKellen as the Earl of Southampton visits Shakespeare and they share a scene of longing and unrequited love based around one of the sonnets. Otherwise, the DVD Xtras are more interesting, especially a fascinating on-stage Q&A where Branagh (describing the Southampton scene as a chess match) shows more animation than in the whole film.

Enjoyable - All Is True review by KM

Reading many of the reviews, we were apprehensive about choosing this film, but we enjoyed it. Yes there was some over acting and self indulgence, but on the whole we found it to be an intelligent take on an unknown part of the Bard's life with lots of references to his works. We would fault the use of modern gas fires more than the script.

Watchable But - All Is True review by CP Customer

there were so many opportunities where a better script could have made the finished product so much better.  The stand out scene was the confrontation of Shakespeare and the Earl of Southampton and I could feel tension between Messrs Branagh and McKellen as to proceeded.  Visually good to look at, but that does not make a great film and whilst the actors tried their hardest the failings of the script was their downfall. 

Dull Dull Dull and Dull - All Is True review by AL

Good grief, I didn't last long and had to forward on to the end. But for the brief time lasted, I found it so slow and Dull, just aweful. I loved Upstart Crow and can't believe thanks written by the same person. Very disappointed.