Ever since its launch,Grand Theft Auto Onlinehas been a massive homefor a variety of players, whether it’s friends looking to embark on crazy missions, or individuals looking to create the most chaos and damage possible. Uniquely,Grand Theft Hamletseeks to break the series' violence-driven formula to create a more engaging and innovative format for what the Rockstar game could be, though it is slightly hampered by the lack of longevity in its premise.
Grand Theft Hamlet
Cast
Grand Theft Hamlet is a 2024 film where two unemployed friends attempt to stage Shakespeare’s Hamlet within the virtual realm of Grand Theft Auto. The movie unfolds as a humorous and surreal narrative, blending classic literature with the chaotic world of the video game.
Directed by Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls,Grand Theft Hamletfocuses on the former and his friend, Mark Oosterveen, as they search the world ofGTA Onlineto cast and produce a virtual version of the titular William Shakespeare play. The documentary not only chronicles their efforts to cast the play within the game, but also the filmmakers' struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic to create a sense of community and break free from the emotional taxation they encountered during lockdown in the United Kingdom.
Grand Theft Hamlet Is A Novel Concept Let Down By An Underwhelming Execution
The Film Could Use A Little More Creativity Within Its Video Game World
Given the world ofGrand Theft Auto Onlineis the film’s setting, it’s certainly understandable the filmmakers would be restrained by the controls ofthe Rockstar title. The online multiplayer world has certain restrictions, whether it be a player’s actions, dialogue, or appearance. However, it’s really the wayGrand Theft Hamletprimarily focuses itself on the gameplay of the title that proves somewhat underwhelming in its execution.
The concept of an entirely game-set documentary is certainly novel and is worthy of more exploration in the genre. However, Crane and Grylls don’t take it far enough for it to feel like anything more than a YouTube gamer playingGTA Online. Whether it’s the filmmakers exploring different locations for the actors to audition and rehearsethe Shakespeare playor the various locations they hoped to perform the eventual production, only for other players to interrupt with their violent actions, there’s a disconnect between the sincere and humorous natures, so to speak, of thecommunity.
That said, there’s still a lot to the movie other filmmakers can learn from. The fact that the entirety ofGrand Theft Hamletis set within the game, with the human players not revealed until the very end, makes for an intriguing twist on the format, as we’re left to identify these figures with their goofy-looking avatars. Additionally, the sheer range of locations in the game provides some diverse settings for not just the production ofHamlet, but the documentary as a whole.
The Movie’s Story Is A Refreshing Reminder Of The Importance Of Community
Even In A Game Dominated By Violence, Heartfelt Bonds Can Be Built
Though the overall execution of its central concept is a bit of a mixed bag, whereGrand Theft Hamletultimately soars is in its reflection on the theme of community. Though Crane, Grylls, and Oosterveen were friends and partners before the events of the film, part of the movie’s charm is that they quite literally open the floor for any and all players intheGTA Onlinecommunity, which results in them meeting a wide array of people along the way.
This point felt hammered home for me in the way the relationships with the other players evolve as the filmprogresses. Certain “actors” have to take reduced roles due to changes in their lives, while others find themselves going from self-doubt due to a language barrier to embracing confidence to be on “stage” or continuing their involvement in the production. Finding people who have yearned to be theater actors but are working in other fields adds a wonderful emotional layer to the documentary of how heartfelt bonds and experiences can be built even in a game dominated by violence.
It truly is just the overall execution that left me somewhat lacking in my love forGrand Theft Hamlet. There are moments in the film in which Crane, Grylls, and Oosterveen have heated arguments about life, clearly stemming from the emotional stress of pandemic lockdown, but they don’t quite land with the proper impact due to the awkward visualization of its namesake game. But for those with even a general interest in gaming and looking for a charming twist on the theater industry,Grand Theft Hamletis still worth a watch.
