Paul Mescal’s ‘Hamnet’ Receives ‘Sublime’ Oscar Praise for His Role as Shakespeare with Jessie Buckley

Paul Mescal’s new movie Hamnet has been praised as ‘sublime’ and Oscar-worthy as critics lauded his portrayal of Shakespeare in a sea of hugely-positive reviews.

The Irish actor, 29, plays William Shakespeare in the historical drama alongside actress Jessie Buckley, 35, who takes on the role of his on-screen wife Agnes. 

Based on Maggie O’Farrell’s award-winning novel, the movie follows the pair as they struggle to come to terms with the loss of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet, to the plague. 

The star-studded cast also features Taylor Swift’s ex Joe Alwyn, 34, alongside Oscar nominee Emily Watson and Alien Earth’s David Wylmot. 

The Daily Mail’s film critic Brian Viner was extremely impressed with the film, giving it a perfect five star rating and calling it a ‘deeply soulful, altogether intoxicating tearjerker’. 

He went on to praise leading man Paul saying his work in the project is ‘career-best stuff’, adding: ‘Look out for those Oscar nominations!’ 

Brian was just as positive about Jessie’s performance calling it ‘a proper tour de force’ which saw her ‘unleash visceral emotion without over-acting’.

Elsewhere The Telegraph also gave it five stars, saying the ‘sublime adaptation couldn’t have been done any better’. 

Their critic Robbie Collin penned: ‘Mescal has simply never been better, while as Agnes, Buckley doesn’t so much act in a conventional sense as seems to discover her character before your eyes: every moment she plays rings transparently true.’

It added that despite the speech ‘being among the most worn in the English tongue’ there is still a sense of ‘freshness’ to the film. 

In addition, The Guardian gave the film an impressive four stars, saying both Paul and Jessie ‘excel’ in the project.

Their reviewer Richard Lawson was particularly impressed by Jessie’s performance, saying: ‘It’s Buckley, though, who wholly envelops the film, giving staggering breath and body to Hamnet’s portrait of loss. She is nothing short of a wonder.’

He is also full of praise for Paul who he says is ‘far more expressive than he’s been allowed in quieter films’ like Aftersun and The History of Sound. 

Rolling Stone was equally as gushing about the film saying it adapted brilliantly from book to screen.

They wrote: ‘Filmmaker Chloé Zhao’s rigorous, moving, and altogether transcendent take on channeling pain into work and finding the will to go on is every bit the book’s equal.’

They added that Jessie had a ‘career-defining performance as Agnes’, while Paul’s role was played with ‘jagged sensitivity’. 

The Times also gave it five stars, saying the ‘transcendent adaptation’ will be an ‘Oscar frontrunner’.

Their reviewer Kevin Maher says of the final scenes: ‘The ending, set in the Globe during a production of Hamlet, is harrowing, meaningful and magnificently sad. 

‘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 

They write: ‘It’s impossible to overstate how radical – and for some, no doubt unwatchable – the ‘Nomadland’ director’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel turned out.’

Hamnet comes following reports that the hit film Oliver is reportedly the latest classic to undergo a remake with Paul in a starring role. 

Back in 2021, Sky was slammed for their adaptation of the fan favourite Charles Dickens novel, titled Twist and starring popstar Rita Ora. 

However now theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh is reportedly working on the project, with huge stars including Paul and Florence Pugh in line for key roles.

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

‘It’s early days but talks are very much ongoing. At the centre of them is the feeling that if it’s done, it must be done right.

‘The last thing anyone wants is the classic film to be tarnished by a woke Hollywood remake. The less said about Sky’s Twist, the better.’

Hamnet will be released in the UK on January 9.