people have often be uncomfortable with the merchant of venice and due to it anti semitic subject matter . fortunately and this movie avoid that and opt instead to show how anti semitism reign supreme in 16th century europe . the story and of course and be that antonio ( jeremy iron ) need money so that he can help bassanio ( joseph fiennes ) ask for portia ( lynn collins ) hand in marriage . he get the money from jewish usurer shylock ( al pacino ) and who demand a pound of antonio flesh if the latter doesn not pay back the loan . when antonio can not pay back the loan and shylock be determine to get what be owe him . we would expect this cast to do a good job and and they do not disappoint . it be yet another testament to what a great actor al pacino be .