THE STORY – Struggling actors Sam and Mark find solace from lockdown isolation by staging Hamlet in Grand Theft Auto Online (2013), battling griefers as they connect through William Shakespeare.
THE CAST – Sam Crane, Mark Oosterveen & Pinny Grylls
THE TEAM – Sam Crane & Pinny Grylls (Directors/Writers)
THE RUNNING TIME – 89 Minutes
One of the oft-quoted lines from William Shakespeare’s seminal work, “Hamlet,” goes as follows: “To be, or not to be, that is the question.” Most high schoolers can recite this line without looking at the source text. It’s practically beaten into the minds of would-be thespians before they decide to take the stage and tackle Iambic Pentameter in all its glory.
However, the meaning behind one of Shakespeare’s most notable quotes provides an elevated substance to modern woes, particularly that of the global COVID-19 pandemic in the new documentary, “Grand Theft Hamlet.” Taking place entirely in the immersive universe of the action video game “Grand Theft Auto,” the film reminds audiences of what it felt like to be isolated in lockdown while holding onto a glimmer of hope for humanity’s future.
“Grand Theft Hamlet” stars the voices of Sam Crane and Mark Oosterveen, two English actors experiencing Britain’s third lockdown in January 2021. Unable to find work in their chosen profession in the real world, Sam and Mark resort to playing “Grand Theft Auto” on a regular basis as a means to escape the hellish environment outside their London flats. Finding a sense of community in a lonely existence can be quite tricky, but the two friends find ways to stay connected by shooting random strangers they encounter within the game.
One fateful day, our heroes discover an empty amphitheater in the game resembling the famed Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. As a bit of a joke, the two show off their knowledge of Shakespeare by standing on the large digital stage and reciting lines from “Hamlet” as non-player characters stand witness to their playful games. But what starts out as a gag suddenly turns into a grand idea to stage the entirety of “Hamlet” within the confines of the game they’re playing, a first for “Grand Theft Auto” players.
The two actors decide to ask Sam’s documentary filmmaker partner, Pinny, to document their journey. Pinny, a newbie to video games, finds the violence and gore of GTA all too exciting while playing along with the two performers’ intentions. But what the team captures is far more intriguing than they originally anticipated.
“Grand Theft Hamlet” is a marvelous journey into the hearts and minds of people seeking connection through a general sense of belonging during a time when humanity needed it most. The typical sequence of events that one should expect any play to go through in this film are the following: There are auditions where several GTA players are recruited to try their hand at reciting Shakespeare. There are lengthy rehearsals among some of the game’s most captivating and hyper-violent surroundings. Then, towards the film’s finale, the play becomes the thing wherein the audience captures the conscience of the would-be kings by witnessing in segmented pieces the entirety of “Hamlet.”
Sam and Mark’s trajectory throughout the documentary isn’t entirely known at the outset. The two are bonded by their eagerness to see this outrageous performance through to the end, but the harsh realities of the outside world seep into the game as Mark confesses his loneliness during times of struggle. Sam and Pinny’s relationship takes on new challenges, and priorities come into focus as the film progresses.
At the heart of “Grand Theft Hamlet” is a funny and heartwarming story of people finding what motivates them and the family they create along the way. There are outsiders that come into Sam and Mark’s world that round out this kooky tale with honesty and humility. The end result is a bizarre performance of “Hamlet” that is unlike anything the Royal Shakespeare Company could ever dream up, nor would anyone expect them to.
If you’ve ever thought about what it would be like to watch an alien deliver a monologue at The Hollywood Bowl or a bikini-clad woman utter Shakespeare’s words on top of a blimp, Sam and Mark have delivered the film for you. As co-writers and co-directors of this simple saga, Sam Crane and Pinny Grylls lean on GTA’s magnificent world-building to create space for their audience to laugh and marvel at their ingenious ideas. It’s wonderful to watch them play with the environment they’re given while never making a fool of the people who choose to participate in the journey alongside them.
Who knew there would be such a crossover of “Grand Theft Auto” fans and Shakespeare thespians?
