When Kenneth Branagh burst onto the film scene in 1989 with his adaptation of William Shakespeare's Henry V, many saw him as the natural successor to Laurence Olivier, who also made his directorial debut with the same play. Olivier only directed five features over the course of his career, three of them Shakespeare adaptations, all of which are mostly stately, stage bound productions. Branagh, on the other hand, has made a directorial career of everything from the lavish Shakespeare adaptations to superhero films to big swing genre pieces to his eighteenth and most recent film Belfast, a semi-autobiographical accounting of his childhood in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. Winning the People's Choice Award at this year's Toronto International Film Festival, Belfast looks to play a major part in the upcoming awards race, as every winner of that award has been nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars the last nine years.
Making sense of Kenneth Branagh's filmography certainly poses its challenges. Every time he comes out with a new film, you never know what you are going to get, especially as he has moved somewhat into a "one for you, one for me" mode of filmmaking. That being said, his "one for you" films do feel like they easily could be "one for me" ones in a intellectual property safe space for studios. The man embodies the phrase "go big or go home" more than a lot of filmmakers in scale of production, performance and tone. Here, let's look back at the career of the British director and count down his ten best films.
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10. Thor (2011)
While many think the character of Thor, as played by Chris Hemsworth, did not get particularly interesting until his third solo entry in Thor: Ragnarok from Taika Waititi, Kenneth Branagh's 2011 film Thor possesses just as much fun as Waititi's film without the need to comment on or apologize for what it is. Branagh's take on the story of the Asgardian God of Thunder embraces the far-fetched, silly elements of the mythology and world and plays them 100% earnestly. Pitting Hemsworth's Thor and Tom Hiddleston's Loki against one another as larger than life, Shakespearean-esque figures helps place these mythological figures in a context in which we can understand them. Sure, the action set pieces are not the most exciting, but Branagh's fireworks always come from interpersonal character drama, which work wonderfully here. Thor was only the Marvel Cinematic Universe's fourth film, before the MCU formulas had really kicked in, and you can feel Branagh all over it, making it a lovely watch.
9. Belfast (2021)
Branagh's latest is the director's most personal film, both its greatest strength and weakness. On the one hand, Belfast completely immerses you in its time and place of Branagh's hometown in the late 1960s, and the construction of the film certainly places you in the mind and eyes of a child during that time, played by newcomer Jude Hill. As per usual, Branagh assembles a tremendous cast, including Catríona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Ciarán Hinds, and frequent collaborator Judi Dench, who all are giving full, heartfelt performances. The problem is that the film often feels like Branagh is more concerned about recreating the world of his childhood that the dramatic thrusts of both the story and The Troubles, the Protestant/Catholic conflict that plagued Northern Ireland for decades. Belfast may not be the most compelling of his films, but there's still so much beauty to be found in it.
8. In the Bleak Midwinter (1995)
Before Belfast, In the Bleak Midwinter (released in the US as A Midwinter's Tale) was the only film in Branagh's filmography to have an original script penned by the man himself. Sure, he has had writing credits in adapting Shakespeare works, but the story construction and dialogue for those films were by Shakespeare, who is a pretty good writer if you hadn't heard. In the Bleak Midwinter follows a struggling actor/director (Michael Maloney) attempting to mount a production of Hamlet with a collection of misfit outsiders at a soon-to-be demolished church. Branagh squeezed this small film, largely set in one location, between the two gigantic productions of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and his own Hamlet. As a first screenplay, the content certainly matches Branagh's style of direction and performance, in that it is quite uneven. What works best is the comedy, and the troupe of British character actors crammed together in this church makes for plenty of laughs. The misfits finding a family part of the piece feels a little trite, but everyone is so likable that you just go along with it. This was the first film of Branagh's he did not appear in as an actor, but Maloney's pseudo impression of Branagh is quite good. All in all, In the Bleak Midwinter is a sweet, small movie that is a pleasant 90 or so minutes.
7. Murder on the Orient Express (2017)
In one of those instances where "one for you" and "one for me" meet, we have Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of the classic whodunnit novel Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, in which Branagh plays the iconic Hercule Poroit with what can only be described as a mustache on top of another mustache. He assembled a who's who cast of people. including Penélope Cruz, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daisy Ridley, Willem Dafoe, Leslie Odom Jr., Olivia Colman, Josh Gad, Derek Jacobi (a Branagh regular), and of course, Judi Dench. He also managed to shoot this thing on 65mm at a time where studios want to avoid celluloid at all cost. While it may not measure up in terms of crackling suspense to the 1975 adaptation from director Sidney Lumet, it more than makes up for it in sheer opulence and glamor. It feels like the kind of film Hollywood used to make all the time and no longer does, making it a breath of fresh air in the studio glut. Though not sporting the most top of mind IP, Murder on the Orient Express managed to rake in over $350 million at the worldwide box office, and a sequel, Death on the Nile, will be arriving at some point, though it is one of the films that has constantly been pushed over the last year and half. Branagh clearly loves the melodramatic worlds of Agatha Christie and relishes playing Poirot, and if he has somehow stumbled into a successful franchise with this, what a bonus.
6. Peter's Friends (1992)
Another small film that essentially takes place in one location is easily the more successful of the two. Peter's Friends takes a cue from The Big Chill in reuniting a group of old friends after a death, in this case, the death of the titular Peter's father. Set at a large English countryside manor, the former university cabaret troupe come together after ten years to relive past memories, reignite old flames, and deal with their current personal troubles, ranging from loveless marriages to the death of a child. Plenty of films have been made in this mold, but so few do you truly believe the long lasting friendship amongst the cast. This is because most of this cast had been friends for a long time, and in the case of Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry, and Hugh Laurie, they did indeed perform together in the Footlights at Cambridge University together, a club similar to the one in the film. At the time, Branagh and Thompson were married, so they obviously had history. Throw in two veterans of the British stage, Imelda Staunton and Alphonsia Emmanuel, and you have yourself a group of people to totally invest yourself in and want the best for. Peter's Friends may not be groundbreaking cinema, but it has comedy crackles and the drama moves, which really is all that is required out of a film like this.
5. Dead Again (1991)
How does one follow up a lauded debut film that singlehandedly brought interest back to the works of William Shakespeare in the mainstream? Obviously with a neo noir romance about fate and past lives. Dead Again is a complete left turn in the expected trajectory of Branagh's directorial work. Branagh plays a private detective put on the case of a mute woman, played by Emma Thompson, who remembers nothing about her life, including her own name. With the help of a psychic, played by Derek Jacobi, they learn Branagh and Thompson's characters were in love in past lives in the 1940s and one murdered the other, as the two of them start falling for each other in the modern day. This was a big swing studio movie even during a time when studios were much more willing to take big swings. It's only the kind of movie that gets made after you have had a monumental success, and a studio gives you a blank check. Dead Again contains so many twists and turns a finale so over the top that Nicolas Cage would think to bring it down a notch or two. Coming off of material that is very serious, Branagh just needed to make some outrageous fun, and he most certainly accomplished that.
4. Cinderella (2015)
Before we knew live action Disney remakes would be an annual occurrence, Kenneth Branagh made the template for why that would be a successful direction to move in. His Cinderella perfectly understood how to translate the animated classic into a real world setting without just recreating the film shot for shot or altering it to such a degree that it no longer feels recognizable. The character of Cinderella, exquisitely embodied by Lily James, finds the right balance of assuredness and kindness to make a two-dimensional princess into a three-dimensional person, while also making her feel modern without having to be pandering about it (as opposed to the dreadful 2021Cinderella). Richard Madden also gives more life to the Prince than could possibly be expected, and the two have wonderful chemistry. Peppering the supporting cast with Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Stellan Skarsgård, and Hayley Atwell, all of whom vibe exactly with the film's wavelength, help elevate what is, at its core, a cynical cash grab and make something truly wonderful.
3. Henry V (1989)
The film that kicked it all off for Branagh and shot him into stardom. Watching Henry V, even today, makes you understand why he was seen as the next big thing. Bursting onto the scene with a film this large and assured, as well as placing himself at the center of it, sparked a whole new generation into loving the Bard and reviving Hollywood's interest in adapting more of these plays. He certainly takes heavy inspiration from Laurence Olivier's film adaptation and Orson Welles' Chimes at Midnight, but this still showcases everything that makes Branagh who he is. From the unafraid theatricality of Derek Jacobi's opening direct address monologue to Patrick Doyle's beautiful, soaring score, Henry V grabs ahold of you by the collar and never lets go. Branagh received his only Oscar nomination for directing for this film, losing to Oliver Stone for Born on the Fourth of July.
2. Hamlet (1996)
Nobody will ever be able to make a movie like this ever again. A four hour monstrosity shot on 65mm of William Shakespeare's most celebrated play, without a single word cut for time. Admittedly, the execution of every moment isn't always there, and some of the famous cameos (of which there are MANY) do not work at all. However, the sheer ambition of Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet can only be celebrated and admired. Deciding to film the entire play allows to time to dig into many elements of the work rarely explored, both on stage and on film. In particular, the political machinations of the story get brought to the forefront and color every action, particularly by Derek Jacobi's King Claudius, in a whole new way. Jacobi and Julie Christie as Gertrude deliver two of the finest Shakespearean performances ever put to film, and Branagh as the Prince of Denmark himself isn't too shabby either. Hamlet is a sumptious, overwhelming experience that will surely never be matched on film again.
1. Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
Henry V and Hamlet may take up the most bandwidth, as they tell serious stories about serious men, Kenneth Branagh's finest outing as a director is of one of Shakespeare's most effervescent works, Much Ado About Nothing. This romantic comedy nails every joke and sweeping romantic moment it sets out to make. Branagh's want to always overcrank the material just slightly sometimes gets in the way of the more dramatic films, but in this comedy, the slightly over the top feelings compliments the material perfectly. Branagh and Thompson as Benedick and Beatrice rank up there with some of the greatest screwball pairings in film history, spitting verbal jabs at one another with a fiery passion. Once again, Branagh brings together an absurdly talented cast with Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton, Kate Beckinsale, Robert Sean Leonard, and Keanu Reeves, who is slightly miscast but makes it work. The lush photography of Tuscany is a feast for the eyes. Every viewing of Much Ado About Nothing seemingly makes the film more beautiful. While not the most ambitious of the his films, this is the one where every element work totally in sync with one another. Hey Nonny, Nonny!
Kenneth Branagh is about to have a busy fall and winter promoting and campaigning for Belfast, which hits theaters November 12, and will then be promoting Death on the Nile. Based on his career, who knows what kind of film he will make next? Maybe another genre piece, or another small, personal film. As this list shows, Kenneth Branagh's directorial career is completely unpredictable and varies wildly, much like the films themselves. Whatever it is, it'll be an exciting adventure.
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