Frankenstein (2011)
May. 2nd, 2020 09:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
troisoiseauxMy mom and I have been rewatching Elementary, so we were very excited to see that National Theatre Live released BOTH filmed versions of Danny Boyle's production of Frankenstein, where Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch alternated the roles of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature. I had previously seen the version with Cumberbatch as Frankenstein and Miller as the Creature, which was the one that played in movie theaters. Having now seen both versions - we watched the one with Cumberbatch as the Creature last night, and with Miller's Creature tonight - I can see why; it's definitely the stronger casting.
Cumberbatch's Frankenstein ranged from socially awkward to truly unhinged, while Miller's Frankenstein just came across as... shout-y. The difference really struck me in Frankenstein's first interaction with his fiancee Elizabeth (Naomie Harris): Miller's Frankenstein came across as dismissive of Elizabeth's insistence that, since they were engaged, they should actually talk to each other, while Cumberbatch's seemed genuinely confused. On the other hand, Miller brought more nuance to the Creature.
The stage and sound and light design for this show is incredible— it's worth watching for that alone. The scene with the train has stuck with me since I first saw it, years ago, and was even cooler than I remembered.
The version with Jonny Lee Miller as the Creature is available on YouTube until May 8, and the version with Benedict Cumberbatch as the Creature will be available through May 7. I found it interesting to watch both and compare the actors' takes on both roles, but if you want to watch just one and not the other, my recommendation is 100% the version with Miller as the Creature.
Cumberbatch's Frankenstein ranged from socially awkward to truly unhinged, while Miller's Frankenstein just came across as... shout-y. The difference really struck me in Frankenstein's first interaction with his fiancee Elizabeth (Naomie Harris): Miller's Frankenstein came across as dismissive of Elizabeth's insistence that, since they were engaged, they should actually talk to each other, while Cumberbatch's seemed genuinely confused. On the other hand, Miller brought more nuance to the Creature.
The stage and sound and light design for this show is incredible— it's worth watching for that alone. The scene with the train has stuck with me since I first saw it, years ago, and was even cooler than I remembered.
The version with Jonny Lee Miller as the Creature is available on YouTube until May 8, and the version with Benedict Cumberbatch as the Creature will be available through May 7. I found it interesting to watch both and compare the actors' takes on both roles, but if you want to watch just one and not the other, my recommendation is 100% the version with Miller as the Creature.
