Shakespeare in Love
Shakespeare in Love
R | 11 December 1998 (USA)
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Young Shakespeare is forced to stage his latest comedy, "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter," before it's even written. When a lovely noblewoman auditions for a role, they fall into forbidden love -- and his play finds a new life (and title). As their relationship progresses, Shakespeare's comedy soon transforms into tragedy.

Reviews
Ploydsge

just watch it!

Tedfoldol

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

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TeenzTen

An action-packed slog

Ezmae Chang

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

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classicsoncall

I would never have expected to be as entertained as I was by "Shakespeare in Love", but the humorous way in which it was presented made watching it a genuine pleasure. The situations and characters, such as they are spoofing the works of the great bard, is done with such creativity that one doesn't mind that his famous plays are given a royal send-up. Aside from Will Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) and his lady love Viola De Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow), supporting players Geoffrey Rush, Tom Wilkinson and Ben Affleck are all hilarious in their characterizations, with a noteworthy mention of Judi Dench as Queen Elizabeth. What the picture had me wonder about was how the historical William Shakespeare might have actually spent his daily routine writing plays, sonnets and poems, and if he had to deal with underfunded theaters and lack of paying customers. The man is so famous today you don't really think of him as a mere mortal carrying on day to day with the kind of superficial problems that came up in this story. Erectile dysfunction - who knows?Anyway, this is a good break from more serious movie fare, but in the grand scheme of things, to win out as Best Picture over "Saving Private Ryan", and even "Life is Beautiful" is something of a stretch to my mind. Best Costume Design I can agree with, and if there was a category for best Romantic Comedy, then it would have been a winner hands down. Still, not a bad little picture, and who knows, it might even have you looking up a little Shakespeare for your own personal reading pleasure.

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merelyaninnuendo

Shakespeare In LoveThe first act takes its time to settle in with the audience and basically just works as an introduction and then the scrutiny begins when the plot thickens and politics kicks in its second act that lures the audience hoping for something majestic but instead disappoints them utterly in its last act that is loosely scattered onto the script. John Madden is not in its A game which is visible from the first frame as it fails to create the anticipated impact on screen. Joseph Fiennes still needs a lot of work to do on its acting skills for all the work in here is carried by Gwyneth Paltrow who is mesmerizing in her act. Shakespeare In Love never had the script or concept to bedazzle the audience and accounting in the poor execution on its part, the feature delivers a far fetched vision that never comes close.

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Sean Lamberger

Young Will Shakespeare, suffering a bout of writer's block, happens across an intense love and draws inspiration for new material from the whirlwind romance. For a best picture winner, this is awfully mediocre stuff. The plot is simplistic and over-familiar, the acting merely acceptable, and the constant nods and winks to the budding auteur's work quickly grows excessive and wearying. Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes are attractive people and make convincing googly eyes at one another, but their relationship is so swift and passion-fueled that it never feels like more than a fiery seasonal fling. Judi Dench took home a best supporting actress statue for her work as Queen Elizabeth I, though she barely makes a cameo appearance and most of her work seems done by the wardrobe department. Irritatingly blunt at times, particularly when it tries its hand at comedy, I appreciate the freshness of the concept if not its flimsy, dated execution.

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Kirpianuscus

a nice film. funny, amusing, charming, romantic, full of all small tricks who gives to it a large target, mixture of historical details and pink details, secret side of a fake story but the truth is not the most important thing. after its end, two performances remains interesting- Elisabeth by Judy Dench and Marlowe by Rupert Everett. each as presence to gives roots to a lovely adventure in which Shakespeare seems be only good basic idea for rediscover original version of one from his plays. pure entertainment, the film is far to be good or bad. it is only a firework. seductive for story, atmosphere and costumes, old for well known clichés, new for the need of romantic fairy tales.short, nice at whole.

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