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Rated: R
Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Geoffrey Rush, et al.
Director: John Madden Review
One of the most endearing and intelligent romantic comedies of the '90s,
the Oscar-winning Shakespeare in Love is filled with such good will, sunny
romance, snappy one-liners, and devilish cleverness that it's absolutely
irresistible. With tongue placed firmly in cheek, at its outset the film
tracks young Will Shakespeare's overwrought battle with writer's block and
the efforts of theater owner Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush, in rare form)
to stage Will's latest comedy, Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter.
Jokey comedy, though, soon takes a backseat to ravishing romance when the
beautiful Viola De Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow) disguises herself as a young
man to wangle herself an audition in the all-male cast, and wins both the
part of Romeo and, after much misunderstanding, the playwright's heart.
Soon enough, Will's pirate comedy becomes the beautiful, tragic Romeo and
Juliet, reflecting the agony and ecstasy of Will and Viola's romance--he's
married and she's set to marry the slimy Lord Wessex (Colin Firth) in the
near future.
The way that Oscar-winning screenwriters Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard
enfold their story within the parameters of Romeo and Juliet (and even
Twelfth Night) is nothing short of brilliant--it would take a
Shakespearean scholar to dissect the innumerable parallels, oft-quoted
lines, plot developments, and thematic borrowings. And most amazingly,
Norman and Stoppard haven't forgotten to entertain their audience in
addition to riding a Shakespearean roller coaster, with director John
Madden (Mrs. Brown) reigning in his huge ensemble with rollicking energy.
Along the way there are small gems to be found, including Judi Dench's
eight-minute, Oscar-winning turn as a truly regal Queen Elizabeth, but the
key element of Shakespeare in Love's success rests on the milky-white
shoulders of its two stars. Fiennes, inexplicably overlooked at Oscar
time, is a dashing, heartfelt Will, and as for Best Actress winner Paltrow,
well, nothing she'd done before could have prepared viewers for how
amazing she is here. Breathtakingly beautiful, fiercely intelligent,
strong-willed, and lovestruck--it's a performance worthy of Shakespeare in
more ways than one. By the film's end, you'll be thoroughly won over--and
brushing up your Shakespeare with newfound ardor. --Mark Englehart
----------- Funny thing about "Shakespeare
in Love:" I saw it in the theater when it first came out, and during the
first segment of the film when Will was suffering a debilitating case of
writer's block, the movie was interesting enough, the set design and
costumes were enjoyable, etc., but it didn't seem to be particularly
inspired. Later, however, Will meets Viola, he gets his creative muse
back, and the film suddenly becomes MAGICAL. And it's exactly this kind of
resonance between the plot and the film's direction that gives "Shakepeare
in Love" that ineffable quality that distinguishes an Academy Award
winner. This film went head-to-head with odds-on favorite "Saving Private
Ryan" and WON; and although "Saving Private Ryan" was a powerful and
devastating project, "Shakespeare in Love" has the sort of sheer LYRICISM
that one is so hard-pressed to find in mainstream movies today.
Allow me to gush about this film just a bit more. Certain sequences stand
out. The editing of the film, back and forth, between rehearsals for
"Romeo and Juliet" and Will & Viola's steamy bedroom scenes (Shakespearean
prose included), is an example of the lyricism I mention. The actual
performance of the play, especially the final scene, before an enraptured
audience brought tears to my eyes. And exactly how Dame Judi Dench (As
Elizabeth I) could cram so much power into so little screen time is a
marvel unto itself. If anything, "Shakespeare in Love" is a
bit of a fantasy. It requires a considerable suspension of disbelief in
assuming that Viola might pass so easily as a young man, Sir Thomas Kent,
or that Viola existed at all. Still, this film is just a WONDERFUL story
that along the way touches on the issues of sex roles and gender identity.
Will Shakespeare's own ambiguous sexuality is even hinted at, however
briefly. If you enjoy Shakespeare, you will love "Shakespeare in Love."
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