michael radford have do an excellent job bring this difficult play to the screen . he have take a play with a reputation for anti semitism and and show u that shakespeare know quite well the humanity of the jew . radford say after the screening and and i agree and that shylock be his first tragic hero and the first of his character to be undone by a driving and compulsive need for revenge . he also point out and quite rightly and that a man who be anti semitic could not have write shylock speech of if you prick me and do i not bleed . radford be himself of jewish descent and he have pick out the good and bad of all character with delicacy and honesty . no character be free from flaw while no character be evil . radford have place the play in the 16th century and which give a lush background of venetian politics and decadence on which to project shakespeare word . if you get a chance to hear radford speak about the film and i highly recommend you take it and since he give detail about life in 16th century venice that illuminate a lot of the choice he make and give considerable extra depth to the viewing . i be hop that the dvd will come out with extensive commentary . jeremy iron do a gorgeous portrayal of antonio and a man who resign himself to bear the burden of his past misdeed . lynn collins and a relative unknown and give u an absolutely flawless and stunning and and detailed job a portia . not only be ms. collins beautiful she also give portia layer of intelligence and humor prior to the trial scene i have rarely see in any production of this play . the rest of the cast also do a terrific job and with a notable performance by kris marshall a gratiano and and a beautifully subtle work by allan corduner a tubal and play the foil to shylock . finally and while al pacino pull out his usual strong ( and loud ) performance and his best moment be when the camera focus on him and he say no word and but you can see all the emotion and madness flow into and out of him a he perceive his fortune change . if you like period movie and i can not recommend this movie enough .