Review of Shakespeare in Love (1998) by Manal S — 01 Oct 2010

Passion. Art. Love. Beauty. All in one movie that will leave you utterly speechless. Shakespeare In Love has by far exceeded my expectations and deservedly topped my all-time-favorite-movies list. I don't know from where to start.. but I certainly know with whom to start; the one and only Joseph Fiennes. Were Shakespeare alive, he would be jumping out of happiness for being depicted with such vigor, heartiness and originality! Fiennes not only has playfully depicted the 17th century dramatist but also added a lot from his own passion-radiating personality - so masterfully and sincerely that you will not be able to take your eyes off the screen as long as he is on. As for the ever-radiant Gwyneth Paltrow, she is literally the sunshine of the movie. Her delicacy and sweetness take over the script and setting and even other actors, and manage to put you in a fairytale-like atmosphere. Geoffrey Rush was more than brilliant, as usual, as the money-seeker Philip Henslowe and hugely added to the comic effect. Roughly, the same can be said about Ben Affleck who was surprisingly good as the self-centered yet kind-hearted actor Ned Alleyn. Queen Elizabeth was originally portrayed by the ever-talented academy-award-winner Judi Dench. She manages to mix comedy with grandeur in her representation of the famous Queen.

Although it derives most of the characters from real life, the story is fictional, or at least not proved true. However, it poses a new perspective for regarding history. History, like art, is in the eye of the teller and the listener/viewer. Thus imagination plays the greatest role in relating the events of the story. This will leave you wondering what if this was true?! What if Shakespeare's timeless love sonnets and plays are nothing but the reflection of a larger-than-life romance.

The script is beautifully written and the score is heavenly composed.

In Shakespeare In Love, everything is carried to perfection so that it could touch every single cord of your heart.