Hamnet Review: Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal Bring Shakespeare’s World to Life

Hamnet is a Shakespearean love story brought to life.

‘Hamnet,’ a drama based on Maggie O’Farrell’s award-winning novel, is one of the most beautifully heartbreaking films of the year. Not only that, but it boasts a pair of stellar performances that are sure to be buzzed about this awards season. ‘Nomadland’ and ‘Eternals’ director Chloé Zhao has positively pivoted to follow up her MCU entry with a Shakespearean romance for the ages.

The Story That Inspired a Masterpiece

In ‘Hamnet,’ Jessie Buckley is Agnes. She is a young woman who would rather be in the forest with her pet hawk than anywhere else. Agnes meets a young William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal), and their love story unfurls from there. Their highs and lows of love and loss eventually inspire Will’s masterpiece, ‘Hamlet.’ The title of the film itself comes from the first name of William and Agnes’ son, Hamnet.

While the novel on which the film is based is fictional, it draws on actual events from Shakespeare’s life and creates a narrative around them. The world Zhao has created in the film feels real and lived in, with the homes and recreations feeling pulled straight from the late 1500s. It’s a faithful reconstruction that will have audiences feeling teleported.

Jessie Buckley Delivers a Career-Best Performance

Buckley’s performance will be the talk of the town, full of raw, unfiltered emotion. She transitions Agnes from a young woman being courted by Shakespeare to one of the most honest and uninhibited depictions of motherhood seen onscreen. Buckley herself became a parent this year, meaning this performance was captured before she was a mother in reality. It’s a testament to the incredible work she’s done here.

As powerfully as she portrays Agnes’ embracing of motherhood, the grief she exudes when facing one of the worst losses a parent can endure will make the audience want to rip their own hearts out. It’s devastating and deeply affecting, and Buckley is captivating in every moment.

Paul Mescal’s Shakespeare Is a Quiet Revelation

Mescal also gives a fantastic performance as William Shakespeare, whose awkward social nature and tortured artistic mind feel authentic rather than stylized. Mescal is an exceptional performer who fully commits to the role, grounding Shakespeare with vulnerability. His supporting turn balances Buckley perfectly.

A Lived-In World Shaped by Chloé Zhao

As emotional as the story is, it never leans into artificial sentiment. Zhao’s restrained touch keeps the film grounded and intimate, allowing the performances and the quiet devastation of the story to shine. The subdued, moving score from Max Richter adds a layer of emotional depth without overwhelming viewers.

Verdict

‘Hamnet’ is a drama that’s as devastating as it is mesmerizing, with two of the best performances of the year. We will all be speaking of Buckley’s work in particular for a long time.

Hamnet is now playing in theaters.

---

Read more Reviews on Nerdtropolis and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube.