Hamnet imagines the marriage of William Shakespeare and his feisty wife Agnes. As portrayed by Jessie Buckley, Agnes oozes feistiness. Their romance and her birth scenes crackle, with screams and howls. The death of their son Hemnet, most likely from the plague, throws the marriage into chaos. Shakespeare throws himself into work while Agnes throws herself into the full force of grief. Did the tragedy influence The Tragedy of Hamlet? Did the work repair the marriage? Jessie Buckley's performance overpowers all. She will most certainly receive an Oscar nomination and probably win. Hamnet gives this year's awards season an artful entry. I hate to admit I found it a chore to watch.
