Paul Mescal’s new movie Hamnet is praised as ‘sublime’ and Oscar-worthy as critics laud his portrayal of Shakespeare alongside Jessie Buckley

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Critics are calling Paul Mescal’s performance in the new film *Hamnet* ‘sublime’ and predicting an Oscar nomination, with many praising his depiction of Shakespeare in overwhelmingly positive reviews.

Irish actor, aged 29, stars as William Shakespeare in a new historical drama. Jessie Buckley, 35, plays his wife, Agnes, in the film.

The movie, adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s acclaimed novel, tells the story of a couple grieving the death of their eleven-year-old son, Hamnet, who succumbed to the plague.

The film boasts a talented cast including Joe Alwyn, known for his relationship with Taylor Swift, as well as Academy Award nominee Emily Watson and David Wylmot from ‘Alien Earth’.

Brian Viner, the Daily Mail’s film critic, loved the movie, awarding it a full five stars. He described it as a powerfully moving and captivating film that’s sure to make you cry.

Oh my gosh, Paul was just incredible in this! Seriously, it’s the best work he’s *ever* done, and I’m not exaggerating. I’m already predicting Oscar nominations for him – keep your eyes peeled, because he *deserves* it!

Brian also highly praised Jessie’s performance, describing it as incredibly powerful and emotionally raw, but perfectly controlled – she didn’t go overboard.

The Telegraph also awarded it a perfect five-star rating, praising it as an adaptation that ‘couldn’t have been done any better’.

Film critic Robbie Collin praised Paul Mescal’s performance as his best yet, and described Jessie Buckley as captivatingly natural as Agnes, noting she appears to genuinely find her character in the moment, making every scene feel authentic.

Although the speech used in the film is very famous and has been heard many times, the movie still feels new and original.

The Guardian also praised the film, awarding it four stars and highlighting strong performances from both Paul and Jessie.

Reviewer Richard Lawson especially praised Jessie Buckley’s performance, describing it as captivating and deeply moving. He said she ‘completely embodies the film,’ bringing incredible depth and emotion to her portrayal of grief and calling her performance ‘nothing short of a wonder.’

He also highly commends Paul, noting that Paul is much more outwardly expressive in this film than he’s had the opportunity to be in his previous, more subdued roles in movies like Aftersun and The History of Sound.

Rolling Stone also praised the film, highlighting its excellent adaptation from the book.

As a huge fan of the book, I was absolutely blown away by Chloé Zhao’s film adaptation. She captured the raw emotion and the journey of turning pain into something meaningful with such sensitivity and power – it truly felt like a perfect companion piece, matching the book’s impact every step of the way. It’s a deeply moving film that really stays with you.

Reviewers praised Jessie’s performance as Agnes, calling it a turning point in her career. They described Paul’s acting as both raw and emotionally nuanced.

The Times awarded it a perfect five-star rating, predicting the ‘remarkable adaptation’ is a strong contender for an Oscar.

Reviewer Kevin Maher describes the film’s ending, which takes place during a performance of Hamlet at the Globe Theatre, as deeply moving, impactful, and beautifully heartbreaking.

‘You might want to yell out, ‘Make it stop!’ This is, instantly, the essential Shakespeare movie.’

Variety gave it strong reviews too, saying Jessie ‘delivers a heroic performance’ while praising 

Chloé Zhao’s film adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel is surprisingly bold and unconventional – some viewers might even find it difficult to watch.

News of ‘Hamnet’ arrives soon after reports that a remake of the classic film ‘Oliver!’ is in the works, with Paul set to play a leading role.

In 2021, Sky received criticism for their modern take on Charles Dickens’ classic story, Twist, which featured popstar Rita Ora in a leading role.

Now, renowned theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh is said to be developing the project, and big names like Paul Mescal and Florence Pugh are potential candidates for leading roles.

A source told The Sun: ‘Sir Cameron is really keen for a new version of Oliver! to finally happen.

Discussions are happening now, and while it’s still early in the process, the main focus is ensuring any agreement reached is a thorough and proper one.

Honestly, the thought of anyone messing with that perfect movie fills me with dread! A ‘woke’ Hollywood remake? No, thank you! And please, let’s just *never* talk about that Sky ‘Twist’ again. It was…a mistake. A terrible, terrible mistake. We need to protect the original, that’s all I care about!

Hamnet will be released in the UK on January 9. 

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2025-10-13 12:04