Shakespeare in Love Review
By Christopher Null
The clever premise follows one William Shakespeare (Fiennes), stuck with writer's block while trying to pen "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter" and unable to get his own love life going to boot.
Enter Viola (Paltrow), an upper-class woman with aspirations of acting in the men-only theatre who sneaks in (in drag) to audition for the part of Romeo. But not only is Viola a woman, she's betrothed to the Duke of Wessex and is set to sail for the New World in a matter of weeks. It's only natural that young Will falls for the lady.
Wacky hijinks ensue, but Shakespeare never falls into the syrupy love story trap, and the insight into what-might-have-been is a real treat for fans of the bard. Fiennes does excellent work here, as does Paltrow, who always seems to act better when affecting a British accent.
The six Golden Globe nominations are right on target - definitely check Shakespeare out at an art house near you.
Willy gets jiggy wit' it.
Facts and Figures
Year: 1998
Run time: 123 mins
In Theaters: Friday 8th January 1999
Box Office Worldwide: $289.3M
Budget: $25M
Distributed by: Miramax
Production compaines: Universal Pictures, Miramax Films, Bedford Falls Productions
Reviews
Contactmusic.com: 4.5 / 5
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Fresh: 112 Rotten: 10
IMDB: 7.2 / 10
Cast & Crew
Director: John Madden
Producer: Donna Gigliotti, Marc Norman, David Parfitt, Harvey Weinstein, Edward Zwick
Screenwriter: Tom Stoppard, Marc Norman
Starring: Joseph Fiennes as Will Shakespeare, Gwyneth Paltrow as Viola De Lesseps, Geoffrey Rush as Philip Henslowe, Tom Wilkinson as Hugh Fennyman, Judi Dench as Queen Elizabeth, Imelda Staunton as Nurse, Colin Firth as Lord Wessex, Ben Affleck as Ned Alleyn, Simon Callow as Tilney, Steven Beard as Makepeace, Jim Carter as Ralph Bashford, Rupert Everett as Christopher Marlowe, Martin Clunes as Richard Burbage, Tim McMullan as Frees, Joe Roberts as John Webster
Also starring: Donna Gigliotti, Marc Norman, David Parfitt, Harvey Weinstein, Edward Zwick, Tom Stoppard
