I have never heard Shakespeare sound so entirely naturally and, to use a modern descriptor, real. All while absolutely maintaining the original character of the language and diction. This is beyond impressive.
Tbf, it's one of the most modern sounding passages of Shakespeare imo. I could imagine a politician or "well spoken" person saying this in the 21st century.
Damian Lewis acts and presents Marc Antony as a sensitive man, which he was not. I think (only in my opinion) Charlton Heston's acting - as an ambitious , powerful crowd manipulating Marc Anthony - is more true to the real historic Antony . -
Hartmut Jager They are both interpretations of Shakespeare’s work anyway. So it doesn’t really matter which we think is more historically accurate to how Mark Antony may or may not have been.
@@LouisKing995 True, I was merely referring to different acting interpretations of what we know from ancient historian writers of what Marc Antony might have been. 🙂
Hartmut Jager But also bare in mind, that Heston was delivering the speech in a scene filled with extras. Whereas Lewis is just talking directly to us, so the contexts are totally different. I imagine if Lewis was doing this to a full audience the delivery would change.
It's amazing how clearly Shakespeare's genius shines through when his work is properly acted and not just recited by bored high school students who could not care less.
You have a sound point and perhaps high school English teachers should play this clip before kids read Shakespeare so that they can understand that there is real meaning and emotion behind the written words.
I don't disagree with you but I think it's not always just boredom. It's hard to recite this properly, it's even hard to understand it properly the first time. These things need time and often in school you arrive at 8 am, have 10 minutes to prepare, you are put on the spot as an average kid, not a talented actor and your anxiety goes through the roof.
@@MsJavaWolf That's a fair point, if these puppy mills we call high schools today were less of a pressure cooker, we might actually get some learning done instead of waiting for University.
I had to memorize this and recite it in class 🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️ I memorize the very beginning portion and “But Brutus was an honorable man” That speech did NOT go so well
The thing I loved about these little 'solos' is that it really illustrates that with Shakespeare, all you really 'need' are the words, and the will. Stages, costumes, set dressing, it's all optional. If you can see the picture the words paint, and hear the music of the performance, you have everything you need.
I'm not 100% sure but I think the Latin word "brutus", from which we get the English word, may have been coined after Caesar's murder. In other words, the connection between the words is no coincidence.
@@drewmandan It is the cognomen or third name of the Junii family,the first to carry the name was Lucius Junius Brutus,an ancestor of the now more famous Brutus. His ancestor founded the republic after removing the tyrant king of Rome.
@@nesossin I think he was referring to the opposite. That the origin for the word "brutish", brutus, was coined after Caesar's murder and made after Brutus the person, which is how a lot of words got their origins.
@@mrmcawesome9746 According to the etymology of the word on Wiktionary it spelled brûtish (flat over the u, but I don't know how to make that) in latin. It was apparently an Oscan loanword, which which had an indo-European root. The word has also changed meaning a bit. In latin it meant "stupid, dull". So it seems as if the word "brutish" does not stem from the Roman name "Brutus".
@Holden Mcgroine No the name Brutus, means brutish. Often Roman cognomen were discriptions of ancestors, so Brutus's ancestor was probably stupid/brutish.
Damian Lewis acts and presents Marc Antony as a sensitive man, which he was not. I think (only in my opinion) Charlton Heston's acting - as an ambitious , powerful crowd manipulating Marc Anthony - is more true to the real historic Antony . -
@Michael G Oh, - I need to go out more? - How about YOU checking out the REAL Marc Anthony and the REAL Julius Caesar ! You may discover that - In today's World they would both be condemned - as over-ambitious murdering War-Criminals !
Hartmut Jager um I don’t think you understand that this is completely made up by Shakespeare, and that whilst you are correct that in real life Antony and Caesar were ambitious and cruel, this is fictional. Shakespeare wrote it this way for the theatre.
Leader of Anti-Bennism Well it’s not completely made up. Anthony did speak at Caesar’s funeral, and this was the general gist of it. Just the exact words he used are lost to history.
I love the repeat of "And Brutus is an honorable man" and how it manages to be slightly different each time. The pure fire in his eyes, and slight snarl as he says it the last time gives me chills. Truly an amazing bit of acting!
Honestly, this is the single most compelling and powerful reading I have ever seen of Shakespeare. The small slice of a performance here is astonishing.
But yes. The remarkable point is that the same video was of great help. I am indebted to it as it helped me perform well for my "Character Enactment Activity".
Tears! Damian has such a realism about him that this piece feels natural and not forced or dusty. His sarcasm is on point and the emotion that gradually builds is perfect. I end up teary eyed.
It's indeed one of the most beautiful words written in English language. Marc Anthony made us all part of history in this very moment. He is talking to the Roman people but also to the public... and made us part of the scene.
Appreciable acting. It helped me understand the gist and context in the sense that Antony was giving speech to the public. It can surely be called a demographic speech as Antony indirectly stirred up hostility against the conspirators like Brutus, Cassius, Ligarius, Cinna and what not. As far as I know from the ancient Greek and Roman antiquities Marc Antony in this case proved to be a demagogue to the Roman Republic. This was all because of well association with Julius Caesar himself who was also viewed by the people of Rome as a despotic demagogue, a military tyrant, a benevolent Dictator and what not. But after Caesar's assassination Antony proved to be his only true friend by seeking revenge from the conspirators and avenging the assassination of his own friend. Antony in all ways supported Caesar's actions and was his die-hard loyalist.
It's exactly what happened with me. I didnt know anything really about shakespeare before this, a few months on and me and my best friend try to quote it to each other drunk like damien lewis and David Morriesssy
The beauty of that delivery! I was literally in tears watching this. I've never seen it done with so many layers, such depth of emotion. He portrayed the desperation, the mourning, ironic polity, even a touch of scorn. All while giving an audience that sees no more of the play than this, the feeling of menace and precarious position that the character is speaking under.
I don't know if I will ever find this not stunnig. I don't even like "Julius Caesar" that much or at least others of Shakespeares plays more but this... This is wonderful. Just a couple of minutes and a character, a whole story comes to life.
You may not like "Julius Caesar" play by William Shakespeare but yes there are antiquities which support the fact that Caesar really existed. Even that calendar which is almost identical to the Western Calendar also exists in his name-the Julian Calendar. He was actually most popular with the public than any other ancient Roman senators of that age.
@@karthikparameswaran7813 Not sure what you're trying to achieve with that comment since I never questioned that the historical person Caesar existed, but okay? Btw, I'm also well-aware that Caesar was popular with many people although he also was a (repeated) sign of crisis of the Roman Republic and pretty unpopular with parts of the senate bc of that. (And I also was well-aware of these things, same as the existence of the Julian Calender, when I wrote my initial comment *five years ago*, just sayin'.)
@@Hekabeswelt Understood. But actually Caesar was a coup de' grace to the Roman Republic. It was because the soldiers were out of the control of the Roman Republican law but instead were controlled by their generals. That's why that Social War in 85 B.C. exposed some flaws in the Republican system. Caesar also knew it fully but in some ways proved to be a demagogue. When Caesar was to pass the ambitious "Land Reform Bill" in 59 B.C. he painstakingly read the bill sentence by sentence and asked that whether or not anybody had doubts. Cato, a prominent politician rose up only to filibuster Caesar's Bill. When Caesar ordered his arrest the other senators began to call him a "Tyrant". But Pompey and Crassus, a billionaire in Rome supported Caesar's Bill paving way to bypass the Senate. After having invited his co-consul Bibulus for an important voting decision Caesar, in the public assembly was about to read the bill when he saw the majority of the people dragging down his co-consul, thrashing him and throwing a bucket 🪣 of excrement on Bibulus. Caesar learnt that Bibulus vetoed his bill and that he couldn't hear it.
The thing I love about this speech is that it starts out as if Antony would betray Caesar's memory, but in the end it's quite clear that he's showing his loyalty to Caesar and his memory, with sarcasm toward Brutus and the senate, and by remembering Caesar's virtues.
@@thatperformer3879 This was recorded back in 2016, The Guardian gathered a bunch of actors and actresses to perform some of Shakespeare's greatest monologues for the 400th anniversary of his death. Many years after Band of Brothers.
I'm sorry, but with Caeser dead, there wasn't a soldier in Rome who would talk over Antony. That Centurion might have had the thought, but when the Hero of Alesia spoke, he would listen.
I think it's pretty cool Shakespeare wrote: "I am here at leave of Brutus..." as to imply Marc Anthony needed permission from Brutus to speak at Ceaser's funeral, which would of course have been scandalous to the average Roman, since Marc Anthony was a consul of Rome at the time.
Yes. In fact it was Caesar himself who chose to become a consul and Antony, his co-consul for the year 44 B.C. But, Antony speaking that very line "Here under the leave of Brutus and the rest." has its different context. Caesar was assassinated by a bunch of five to six conspirators who declared "Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!" William Shakespeare in his play writes that when Antony learnt of Caesar's fate he fled to his home. His servant told the conspirators that he himself would be coming soon. The conspirators as per Shakespeare then pooled their hands and swords and daggers 🗡 with Caesar's blood so as to indicate the legitimacy of their acts by slaughtering a tyrant. Antony then entered the Senate house only to see and mourn at Caesar's corpse. He then asked the conspirators their intention of murdering Caesar. They said that the cause of Caesar's death would be rendered after Brutus gave the speech to the public. When Antony also requested to speak in the pulpit, Brutus granted that permission only to speak after him. Also he put another condition that he would not criticise Brutus during the speech which he was going to deliver.
A lot of people compare Lewis with Brando and Heston without considering that the context of this performance and the others is clearly different (Lewis is more intimate and gives the impression of a quiet funeral or a modern press release), and that it's part of the actor's job to find a new angle and a uniqueness to the text and not carbon-copy what others have done. Lewis rhythm here is outstanding, from the emotional and sarcastic crescendo of every "...Brutus is an honorable man", to the vulnerable pausing from "...bear with me.." and onwards. Really powerful stuff.
I clearly remember having to memorize this soliloquy during a lunch hour while in high school because I would be graded for recalling it in my first afternoon class. Line by line, I must have read it 20-30 times. Choosing to write it, instead of perform it, I received 100%. But during that time where it was my sole focus in life, I never once spent any time paying attention to the meaning of the words and the message Antony was expressing. Today, 46 years later, I’ve actually listened to the message and appreciate the richness of Antony’s speech in the context of Roman culture and politics. It, also for a scintilla of time, transported me into the Elizabethan Globe Theatre, where I could appreciate the art within both the writing and performance. For me, it’s such a profoundly unique event to have such an experience at a random moment of time brought by happenstance. Yet I feel like a better person for it.
People so often say that it is hard to understand Shakespeare. When it is acted so well as this, it is hard to not understand it. I wish all things were so easy to understand.
I agree with the some of the comments listed below, absolutely brilliant. I knew before that this speech is Anthony's way of showing his anger to those that murdered Cesar, but THIS was the first time I GOT IT, SAW IT, FELT IT. Bravo, BRILLIANT
To hear it said so much right in your face that you can smell his breath, see each hair of his brows agree with his thoughts, and that mouth, that spits words one by one, so clear, that were threaded by the Eternal Bard himself... Makes it a day that you will remember...
Brando has the Roman Assertiveness, Heston has the Political Persuasion, and Damian Lewis nails the Emotion and Sarcasm. There’s so much varying tone, inflection, and emotion in this speech. Very hard to get it perfect, but it’s great practice.
This has been one of my favorite monologues from ol’ Billy since I first read it. The condescending, passive-aggressive tone to the over-exaggerated mourning. Damian absolutely kills it in this. Bravo
I've heard this soliloquy many times, but that performance was extraordinary and so... natural. Growing increasingly intense without overshadowing the words. Brilliant.
This is literally one video that I keep on coming back to. The performance lingers in mind after watching it and each time I watch it I am captivated and cannot be but in awe of the expression in the voice and eyes alone. This is not just reading words off a paper, this is feeling those words and breathing life into them. -T
I don't know much about theatre, acting, or Shakespeare, but I'm certain that this is perhaps the finest piece of performance by an actor I personally have ever witnessed.
I had to memorize this in 10th grade, and I barely understood a word. This is the first time in years I’ve heard the speech in its entirety, and wow. Not only is this a fantastic piece of writing, but Damian plays it flawlessly.
This is the most moving interpretation I have had the pleasure of listening to… and watching. He leaves little to the imagination as to the thoughts and feelings of the character. The only thing I am not fond of is the limited amount of text read. Beautifully done!
This is an EXCELLENT performance. I was not aware Damien had that in him, but now I want to see more. Most Shakespeare is spoken like a foreign language and it is rare that it is delivered with the proper cadence and intonation to make it intelligible to those of us who cannot understand it otherwise. Being poetry, the expression makes or breaks the meaning. Kudos!!!
Thank you so much for this rendition - it is sheer pleasure to listen to. We have used it to help our kids (ages 14, 8, 5) memorize it for our homeschool program, and they all loved it. Thank you!
This maybe my favorite reciting for this piece ever. He gives us a softer, friendlier antony than most. The murderous rage and violence of character only shining out when he says, "brutus is an honorable man. then as if two contradictory emotional points weren't enough to tell a story, he add yet another layer with genuine emotion and sorrow for the loss of Caesar. Or at least that's how it played to me. Really quite a genius performance
I love this speech and I love his rendition. Seeing the text and I glommed on one work 'I come to speak ~ on ~ Ceasar's funeral ... ' This put a whole new perspective spin on this now ... I can't wait to go down this rabbit hole.
I'm starting to think that Brutus is not an honorable man......
Hey this guy has a point, I'm on this guys side!!!!
*Said every Roman after everything that ever happaned anywhere*
1:11 brutus flew as he was an honourable man.
But... Brutus is an honorable man...
Ya thunk?
@@jameslegrand848 Shakespeare portrayed the Roman mob as being like a cushion: retaining the imprint of the last person who sat on them...
I have never heard Shakespeare sound so entirely naturally and, to use a modern descriptor, real. All while absolutely maintaining the original character of the language and diction. This is beyond impressive.
Absolutely immersive performance. He not only knows but feels the language and speaks it as if it's his natural language. Beyond brilliant.
Couldn't agree more. One of the best rendition of this monologue, that I have seen so far ...
Tbf, it's one of the most modern sounding passages of Shakespeare imo. I could imagine a politician or "well spoken" person saying this in the 21st century.
Watch brando. Its even better
@@ceilingfanenthusiast6041 like after the coup…?
"And Brutus is an honorable man." Each time he says it, he sounds just a liiiiiiittle more angry. Brilliant acting.
Damian Lewis acts and presents Marc Antony as a sensitive man, which he was not.
I think (only in my opinion) Charlton Heston's acting - as an ambitious , powerful crowd manipulating Marc Anthony - is more true to the real historic Antony . -
Hartmut Jager They are both interpretations of Shakespeare’s work anyway. So it doesn’t really matter which we think is more historically accurate to how Mark Antony may or may not have been.
@@LouisKing995 True, I was merely referring to different acting interpretations of what we know from ancient historian writers of what Marc Antony might have been. 🙂
Hartmut Jager But also bare in mind, that Heston was delivering the speech in a scene filled with extras. Whereas Lewis is just talking directly to us, so the contexts are totally different. I imagine if Lewis was doing this to a full audience the delivery would change.
@@LouisKing995 TRUE it would have changed ! But we are discussing what is , not necessarily what would be if. . . 🙂
It's amazing how clearly Shakespeare's genius shines through when his
work is properly acted and not just recited by bored high school
students who could not care less.
You have a sound point and perhaps high school English teachers should play this clip before kids read Shakespeare so that they can understand that there is real meaning and emotion behind the written words.
I don't disagree with you but I think it's not always just boredom. It's hard to recite this properly, it's even hard to understand it properly the first time. These things need time and often in school you arrive at 8 am, have 10 minutes to prepare, you are put on the spot as an average kid, not a talented actor and your anxiety goes through the roof.
@@MsJavaWolf That's a fair point, if these puppy mills we call high schools today were less of a pressure cooker, we might actually get some learning done instead of waiting for University.
“Brutus is an honorable man” Marc Antony, master of sarcasm.
Irony, not sarcasm
VideosdeDomingo No, it’s sarcasm. There’s bitterness in there.
VideosdeDomingo sarcasm is a form of verbal irony
Sarcasm and irony are completely different. Like not even close
According to the Oxford dictionary sarcasm is: “the use of irony to mock or convey contempt.”
Brutus: I am an honorable ma- Antony: hE iS An HoNOraBLE mAN
Probably the most underrated comment. I literally burst out laughing. Thanks!
And I second that motion.
Lol!!!
😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆
Hashtag 💫the more you know,
that Brutus is an,....honorable ma-
Oh I can't do it, you cracked me UP!!!
This sounds so much better than forcing a fifteen year old to read it out of a dusty textbook with literally no intonation.
Maybe a little bit of teaching to be done, permaybehaps? ^_~
Oh I'm reading it in 8th grade
I have to read this in front of my class
I had to memorize this and recite it in class
🤦🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️ I memorize the very beginning portion and “But Brutus was an honorable man”
That speech did NOT go so well
My 12 year old did ok.
The thing I loved about these little 'solos' is that it really illustrates that with Shakespeare, all you really 'need' are the words, and the will. Stages, costumes, set dressing, it's all optional. If you can see the picture the words paint, and hear the music of the performance, you have everything you need.
Riz Ahmed's is just phenomenal, in how modern the setting is.
Legionnaire: We're lost, Caesar.
Caesar: We're not lost legionnaire, we're in Gaul.
I currahee what you did there.
Quaker
mennonite
Can anyone explain this joke I don’t get it?
@@divusgaiusjuliuscaesar4657 watch band of brothers
From Winters to Brody I absolutely adore Damian Lewis. Also, I can’t be the only one who finds themselves rewatching this way too often right?
I watch this clip every time I can.
He rocked it in "Life." I was so disappointed when that was canceled.
He was also excellent as Soames Forsyte
Also in Wolf Hall as Henry VIII
Me too
This performance simultaneously enlightened me to Shakespeare's power and Damian Lewis's talent. I am in your debt, Mr. Lewis.
Try watching Band of Brothers. He will always be Cap Winters to me.
Same here
He's pretty good as Bobby Axelrod
@@AnzuBrief Currahee!
Lloyd W Watch the HBO miniseries ‘Band of Brothers’. It’s the acting role that made his career.
I think it's purely intentional that, when Antony says "brutish beasts," the listener at first thinks he says "Brutus."
I'm not 100% sure but I think the Latin word "brutus", from which we get the English word, may have been coined after Caesar's murder. In other words, the connection between the words is no coincidence.
@@drewmandan It is the cognomen or third name of the Junii family,the first to carry the name was Lucius Junius Brutus,an ancestor of the now more famous Brutus. His ancestor founded the republic after removing the tyrant king of Rome.
@@nesossin I think he was referring to the opposite. That the origin for the word "brutish", brutus, was coined after Caesar's murder and made after Brutus the person, which is how a lot of words got their origins.
@@mrmcawesome9746 According to the etymology of the word on Wiktionary it spelled brûtish (flat over the u, but I don't know how to make that) in latin. It was apparently an Oscan loanword, which which had an indo-European root. The word has also changed meaning a bit. In latin it meant "stupid, dull". So it seems as if the word "brutish" does not stem from the Roman name "Brutus".
@Holden Mcgroine No the name Brutus, means brutish. Often Roman cognomen were discriptions of ancestors, so Brutus's ancestor was probably stupid/brutish.
When Captain Winters helps me with my homework
i think you mean major.
@@Ringlord7 "You salute the man, not the rank"~ Major Winters
Watch billions, shows amazing with damion and giamoni
@@shadmanfaisal3668 Actually, it's the reverse. th-cam.com/video/MTRZRRlA4sw/w-d-xo.html
Major Winters, you’re not leading Easy Company anymore!
"What cause withholds you then, to *mourn* for him?" the change of inflexion of his speech gives me goosebumps
This is one of the finest pieces of acting I have ever seen.
Damian Lewis acts and presents Marc Antony as a sensitive man, which he was not.
I think (only in my opinion) Charlton Heston's acting - as an ambitious , powerful crowd manipulating Marc Anthony - is more true to the real historic Antony . -
@Michael G Oh, - I need to go out more? - How about YOU checking out the REAL Marc Anthony and the REAL Julius Caesar ! You may discover that - In today's World they would both be condemned - as over-ambitious murdering War-Criminals !
Hartmut Jager um I don’t think you understand that this is completely made up by Shakespeare, and that whilst you are correct that in real life Antony and Caesar were ambitious and cruel, this is fictional. Shakespeare wrote it this way for the theatre.
@@actingout4462 Perhaps, I can't tell - what with all those many replies and comments ! Be Well - and don't get sneezed on ! 🙂
Leader of Anti-Bennism Well it’s not completely made up. Anthony did speak at Caesar’s funeral, and this was the general gist of it. Just the exact words he used are lost to history.
I love the repeat of "And Brutus is an honorable man" and how it manages to be slightly different each time. The pure fire in his eyes, and slight snarl as he says it the last time gives me chills. Truly an amazing bit of acting!
Honestly, this is the single most compelling and powerful reading I have ever seen of Shakespeare. The small slice of a performance here is astonishing.
But yes. The remarkable point is that the same video was of great help. I am indebted to it as it helped me perform well for my "Character Enactment Activity".
The Ralph finnes one is amazing
Marlon Brando was great also, check it if you want
I'm back again. I have drunkenly shown this to anyone who will put up with me. One of the absolute best.
Tears! Damian has such a realism about him that this piece feels natural and not forced or dusty. His sarcasm is on point and the emotion that gradually builds is perfect. I end up teary eyed.
It's indeed one of the most beautiful words written in English language. Marc Anthony made us all part of history in this very moment. He is talking to the Roman people but also to the public... and made us part of the scene.
Appreciable acting. It helped me understand the gist and context in the sense that Antony was giving speech to the public. It can surely be called a demographic speech as Antony indirectly stirred up hostility against the conspirators like Brutus, Cassius, Ligarius, Cinna and what not.
As far as I know from the ancient Greek and Roman antiquities Marc Antony in this case proved to be a demagogue to the Roman Republic. This was all because of well association with Julius Caesar himself who was also viewed by the people of Rome as a despotic demagogue, a military tyrant, a benevolent Dictator and what not.
But after Caesar's assassination Antony proved to be his only true friend by seeking revenge from the conspirators and avenging the assassination of his own friend. Antony in all ways supported Caesar's actions and was his die-hard loyalist.
Sorrow, rage, and disgust all wrapped up into a sublime performance by Damian Lewis.
I don't usually comment but this is unusually good. It has the power to engage the uninitiated.
It's exactly what happened with me. I didnt know anything really about shakespeare before this, a few months on and me and my best friend try to quote it to each other drunk like damien lewis and David Morriesssy
It initiated me 👍
100
What a great way to describe it.
Damian just knockin it outta the park reminding us that Shakespeare is to be seen and heard to grasp its depth and meaning.
I watched the whole series, and no offense to others, but I must say this is the best performance. Such passion.
Such passion, much wow
It is! Also saw the all series
Agreed, but the Shylock speech is also very good. Revisit it if you can x)
Agreed.
Exactly my thoughts.
One of the best interpretations of this speech I've ever seen. Sublime.
That "bear with me". Goosebumps
I could watch him all day. This is perfection.
The venom in his voice on the final "brutus is an honorable man" is breathtaking.
I keep coming back to this clip again, again and again.
Myself included
This is hands down the best recitation of this piece I've ever heard.
As someone who's lost a friend, this speech brings me to tears. I can only hope when I die my friends will protect my name even beyond the grave.
The beauty of that delivery! I was literally in tears watching this. I've never seen it done with so many layers, such depth of emotion. He portrayed the desperation, the mourning, ironic polity, even a touch of scorn. All while giving an audience that sees no more of the play than this, the feeling of menace and precarious position that the character is speaking under.
I've watched this like 20 times now and it never gets any less powerful.
Breathtaking.
You're breathtaking!
I have played this on a loop for like three hours now. His final exhale gets me every time.
As soon as he says "He was my friend", I'm gone.
This is one of the most amazing monologues I’ve ever seen
Damien Lewis at his best
I don't know if I will ever find this not stunnig. I don't even like "Julius Caesar" that much or at least others of Shakespeares plays more but this... This is wonderful. Just a couple of minutes and a character, a whole story comes to life.
You may not like "Julius Caesar" play by William Shakespeare but yes there are antiquities which support the fact that Caesar really existed. Even that calendar which is almost identical to the Western Calendar also exists in his name-the Julian Calendar. He was actually most popular with the public than any other ancient Roman senators of that age.
@@karthikparameswaran7813 Not sure what you're trying to achieve with that comment since I never questioned that the historical person Caesar existed, but okay? Btw, I'm also well-aware that Caesar was popular with many people although he also was a (repeated) sign of crisis of the Roman Republic and pretty unpopular with parts of the senate bc of that. (And I also was well-aware of these things, same as the existence of the Julian Calender, when I wrote my initial comment *five years ago*, just sayin'.)
@@Hekabeswelt Understood. But actually Caesar was a coup de' grace to the Roman Republic. It was because the soldiers were out of the control of the Roman Republican law but instead were controlled by their generals. That's why that Social War in 85 B.C. exposed some flaws in the Republican system.
Caesar also knew it fully but in some ways proved to be a demagogue. When Caesar was to pass the ambitious "Land Reform Bill" in 59 B.C. he painstakingly read the bill sentence by sentence and asked that whether or not anybody had doubts. Cato, a prominent politician rose up only to filibuster Caesar's Bill. When Caesar ordered his arrest the other senators began to call him a "Tyrant". But Pompey and Crassus, a billionaire in Rome supported Caesar's Bill paving way to bypass the Senate.
After having invited his co-consul Bibulus for an important voting decision Caesar, in the public assembly was about to read the bill when he saw the majority of the people dragging down his co-consul, thrashing him and throwing a bucket 🪣 of excrement on Bibulus. Caesar learnt that Bibulus vetoed his bill and that he couldn't hear it.
The thing I love about this speech is that it starts out as if Antony would betray Caesar's memory, but in the end it's quite clear that he's showing his loyalty to Caesar and his memory, with sarcasm toward Brutus and the senate, and by remembering Caesar's virtues.
Now where can we watch Damien Lewis perform the entire play? That is cause for a Gofundme if there ever was one...
Him playing every role.
The ultimate cosmetic job.
Catherine Was this before Band of Brothers?
Yes absolutely
@@thatperformer3879 This was recorded back in 2016, The Guardian gathered a bunch of actors and actresses to perform some of Shakespeare's greatest monologues for the 400th anniversary of his death. Many years after Band of Brothers.
"pfft, honorable." - exclaimed a centurion in the crowd
What was Titus Pullo doing in the crowd?
ImperiusDamian not chopping of cicero that’s what
@@damianjblack I declare Brutus and cassius murderers and enemys of the state
I'm sorry, but with Caeser dead, there wasn't a soldier in Rome who would talk over Antony. That Centurion might have had the thought, but when the Hero of Alesia spoke, he would listen.
He hits the notes and rhythms here so perfectly, the piece is transformed from prose into music; haunting, lilting, gorgeous, melty music.
Great actors reveal the greatness of the writing.
Master class.
It was damn near perfect.But a lot of it came from the close in shot. In a theater, you would have seen none of the nuance.
You know I was prepped to hate Brutus, but Mark Antony's vouching for his honor reassures me.
I would like to see the whole monologue done by Damian. THIS IS JUST WHAT ACTING IS! EVERYTHING THEY TEACH US! SO PERFECT! THANK YOU DAMIAN LEWIS!
I think it's pretty cool Shakespeare wrote: "I am here at leave of Brutus..." as to imply Marc Anthony needed permission from Brutus to speak at Ceaser's funeral, which would of course have been scandalous to the average Roman, since Marc Anthony was a consul of Rome at the time.
Yes. In fact it was Caesar himself who chose to become a consul and Antony, his co-consul for the year 44 B.C.
But, Antony speaking that very line "Here under the leave of Brutus and the rest." has its different context. Caesar was assassinated by a bunch of five to six conspirators who declared "Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!" William Shakespeare in his play writes that when Antony learnt of Caesar's fate he fled to his home. His servant told the conspirators that he himself would be coming soon.
The conspirators as per Shakespeare then pooled their hands and swords and daggers 🗡 with Caesar's blood so as to indicate the legitimacy of their acts by slaughtering a tyrant. Antony then entered the Senate house only to see and mourn at Caesar's corpse. He then asked the conspirators their intention of murdering Caesar. They said that the cause of Caesar's death would be rendered after Brutus gave the speech to the public. When Antony also requested to speak in the pulpit, Brutus granted that permission only to speak after him. Also he put another condition that he would not criticise Brutus during the speech which he was going to deliver.
A lot of people compare Lewis with Brando and Heston without considering that the context of this performance and the others is clearly different (Lewis is more intimate and gives the impression of a quiet funeral or a modern press release), and that it's part of the actor's job to find a new angle and a uniqueness to the text and not carbon-copy what others have done. Lewis rhythm here is outstanding, from the emotional and sarcastic crescendo of every "...Brutus is an honorable man", to the vulnerable pausing from "...bear with me.." and onwards. Really powerful stuff.
Every 3-4 months i re-watch this. Every 3-4 months i straight up weep
Magnificent. Such a compelling interpretation.
I gain brain cells from listening to this speech.
Damien Lewis' performances hits all of the notes needed for this. The emotions, the facial expression, the tones. Great job.
The best way to deliver this is without the theatricals. Just like this. A perfect speech!
Whenever I lose someone, I come back to this, it helps me so much. Thank you, Damian
Beautiful rendition.
I would love to see Damian do more of these.
As do i
The band of brothers speach from Henry V...
@@caronstout354 Speech*
3.5 seconds of Damian how alluring.
My lord. Breath taken away!
Damian Lewis is awesome and this makes me like him all the more. I've watched this idk how many times over the last few years
I cannot fathom how 378 didn't like this... But, they are all honourable men...
This speech alone proves the genius of Shakespeare
He has such a relaxing voice and his delivery of Antony's words was masterful.
I clearly remember having to memorize this soliloquy during a lunch hour while in high school because I would be graded for recalling it in my first afternoon class. Line by line, I must have read it 20-30 times. Choosing to write it, instead of perform it, I received 100%. But during that time where it was my sole focus in life, I never once spent any time paying attention to the meaning of the words and the message Antony was expressing. Today, 46 years later, I’ve actually listened to the message and appreciate the richness of Antony’s speech in the context of Roman culture and politics. It, also for a scintilla of time, transported me into the Elizabethan Globe Theatre, where I could appreciate the art within both the writing and performance. For me, it’s such a profoundly unique event to have such an experience at a random moment of time brought by happenstance. Yet I feel like a better person for it.
People so often say that it is hard to understand Shakespeare. When it is acted so well as this, it is hard to not understand it. I wish all things were so easy to understand.
They need to make a TV series of movie with Damian as Anthony
I agree with the some of the comments listed below, absolutely brilliant. I knew before that this speech is Anthony's way of showing his anger to those that murdered Cesar, but THIS was the first time I GOT IT, SAW IT, FELT IT. Bravo, BRILLIANT
To hear it said so much right in your face that you can smell his breath, see each hair of his brows agree with his thoughts, and that mouth, that spits words one by one, so clear, that were threaded by the Eternal Bard himself... Makes it a day that you will remember...
Well said, kemosabe.
Brando has the Roman Assertiveness, Heston has the Political Persuasion, and Damian Lewis nails the Emotion and Sarcasm. There’s so much varying tone, inflection, and emotion in this speech. Very hard to get it perfect, but it’s great practice.
This has been one of my favorite monologues from ol’ Billy since I first read it. The condescending, passive-aggressive tone to the over-exaggerated mourning. Damian absolutely kills it in this. Bravo
Now.. now I get it. Thank you.
I've heard this soliloquy many times, but that performance was extraordinary and so... natural. Growing increasingly intense without overshadowing the words. Brilliant.
This is literally one video that I keep on coming back to. The performance lingers in mind after watching it and each time I watch it I am captivated and cannot be but in awe of the expression in the voice and eyes alone. This is not just reading words off a paper, this is feeling those words and breathing life into them.
-T
I don't know much about theatre, acting, or Shakespeare, but I'm certain that this is perhaps the finest piece of performance by an actor I personally have ever witnessed.
Absolute genius. Moving between the fury and pain. The 'bear with me' is absolutely heart breaking.
Even that when he is trying to cry after that last line. It almost make me cry.
If only I had understood the story of Caesar as I do back in school I woulda recited this with so much emotion
fuck i gotta watch rome again now.
god damnit those exact words went through my head and then I came down to the comments and saw this...
It's too bad small creatures that live today feel they have to swear as if they lived in some ghetto hovel or something.
What is this Rome you speak of?
THIRTEEN!
Tom thx r/iamverysmart
Can't stop watching this
I had to memorize this in 10th grade, and I barely understood a word. This is the first time in years I’ve heard the speech in its entirety, and wow. Not only is this a fantastic piece of writing, but Damian plays it flawlessly.
This is the most moving interpretation I have had the pleasure of listening to… and watching. He leaves little to the imagination as to the thoughts and feelings of the character. The only thing I am not fond of is the limited amount of text read. Beautifully done!
I'd like to see him as Macbeth
AlexanDr Moskalenko My thoughts exactly. That would be awesome.
You mean the Scottish play? 😂
@@Bayartsengel He means the character, Macbeth whom the play is named after.
@@Bayartsengel we theatre nerds do not say that name that must not be spoken
This is perfection. This is beautiful. Thank you Mr Lewis. I weep at the art of this delivery.
This is amazing. I think Shakespeare himself would want it to be recited in this way.
Born to play this role…
This is acting at it's finest right. I've watched this so many times and it's just so powerful..
This is an EXCELLENT performance. I was not aware Damien had that in him, but now I want to see more. Most Shakespeare is spoken like a foreign language and it is rare that it is delivered with the proper cadence and intonation to make it intelligible to those of us who cannot understand it otherwise. Being poetry, the expression makes or breaks the meaning. Kudos!!!
Brilliant, excellent portrayal of this monologue.
Marvelous delivery. I can't help to watch the complete play with Damian Lewis plays Anthony. Marvelous and extrordinary.
I literally got chills as this man spoke 😨
Thank you so much for this rendition - it is sheer pleasure to listen to. We have used it to help our kids (ages 14, 8, 5) memorize it for our homeschool program, and they all loved it. Thank you!
Captain Winters was very articulate, no wonder his men thought so highly of him
The way Lewis brings out Shakespeare’s insults of Brutus (is an honorable man) concluding with “brutish beasts” stuns each time I watch this.
the best rendition of this monologue I've ever heard
Bruh. Give this man every award he’s nominated for. Powerful.
This maybe my favorite reciting for this piece ever. He gives us a softer, friendlier antony than most. The murderous rage and violence of character only shining out when he says, "brutus is an honorable man. then as if two contradictory emotional points weren't enough to tell a story, he add yet another layer with genuine emotion and sorrow for the loss of Caesar. Or at least that's how it played to me. Really quite a genius performance
I come back to this video often, amazing acting.
As do i
That second "Brutus is an honorable man..."
Perfect
What kind of gem, have I stumbled upon here. Bravo!
Absolutely brilliant, building his anger while trying to keep a wise calm. Genius
I love this speech and I love his rendition. Seeing the text and I glommed on one work 'I come to speak ~ on ~ Ceasar's funeral ... ' This put a whole new perspective spin on this now ... I can't wait to go down this rabbit hole.
Damien Lewis is *so* underrated.
Bravo Damian you really made those words come to life. I felt like I was in front of Caesar's pyre myself.
The inward fury he shows towards the end only to swiftly withdraw it at the end is just masterfully done
This is why Damien Lewis has always been my favorite actor.