Antonio (Jeremy Irons), a successful but cash-poor merchant, approaches Shylock (Al Pacino), a wealthymoneylender, for a loan to help his young friend Bassanio (Joseph Fiennes, Shakespeare in Love) woothe fair Portia (Lynn Collins, 13 Going on 30). Despite being longtime enemies, Shylock grants therequest, but demands one pound of Antonio's flesh if the debt is not repaid on time.