Al Pacino shows exactly why he is an acting legend in William Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, now on DVD.

Pacino plays Skylock, who agrees to lend Antonio money as long as he is willing to give up a pound of his flesh if he is late in his repayment.

Antonio gives the money to Bassanio who needs to travel to woo the lovely Portia.

Director Michael Radford had a problem: how does one make a movie about a story that has been retold and redone countless times? To his credit, he left the story almost exactly as it is told by Shakespeare. His movie sticks out because of its acting. Jeremy Irons as Antonio is superb. Pacino could not be better.

The DVD is worth watching just to see Pacino at his finest.

There are few extras on the DVD: a behind-the-scenes feature and commentary, but the DVD is solid with just the movie.

3.5*/5*






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