The Merchant of Venice / Trevor Nunn, Royal National Theatre
The often volatile character of Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, is  powerfully realized in Trevor Nunn's stylish film of Shakespeare'sThe  Merchant of Venice, which uses theatrical sets but is shot as a movie.  Shylock (played with fierce commitment by Henry Goodman) loans money to a  man he despises, the merchant Antonio (David Bramber), only if a pound of  Antonio's flesh will be due upon default. Antonio borrows the money so  that his friend Bessanio (Alexander Hanson) can travel to woo the woman he  loves, Portia (Derbhle Crotty), whose freedom to marry is bound up in a  fairy-tale decree of her father's. The play's mixture of tragedy and  comedy often baffles contemporary audiences; Nunn attempts to solve this  problem by treating almost everything as seriously as possible. While his  approach serves Shylock well, the play's conclusion--in which Portia tests  her husband's commitment--could use a lighter touch.--Bret Fetzer