Review of Shakespeare in Love (1998) by Lindsay Elizabeth M — 11 Apr 2010

Pay attention and you will see how genius creates a legend.

If you haven't seen this film, shame on you. Lol, I'm kidding. :) This was the first romance film which I fell in love with (yes, I notice the similarity). Everything was perfect, and I wholeheartedly agree with it winning the best picture for 1998. Or was it 1999? Anyway, it still won as Best Picture, and that alone says something. The costumes, acting, storyline... wow.

William Shakespeare (Fiennes) is a writer for a theatre owner, Philip Henslowe (Rush), who is in a fierce competition for the most number of audiences with Richard Burbage (Clunes). The trend for plays during this time are comedies, especially those which involve dogs, as these seem to please Queen Elizabeth I (Dench). A woman of noble birth, Viola de Lesseps (Paltrow) enjoys the poetry being recited during those performances, and longs to hear more poems. This pushes her to audition for a play penned by Shakespeare, who, after being struck by her emotional performance, runs after her and realizes who she is. Thus begins a forbidden affair between Shakespeare and de Lesseps, whom has taken on the male lead in Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, formerly Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter. They keep de Lesseps' identity a secret, because women are banned from performing onstage. As the play's rehearsals progress, the two lovers have to deal with de Lesseps' upcoming wedding with the shrewd and cruel Lord Wessex (Firth), plus the fact that their affair is slowly coming into light. There is no happy ending in this film, but I think that that gives the film its charm and appeal. Despite the intense love between the two, they know that their love can never be. Heartbreaking, yes, but there are comic moments as well. Ben Affleck as Shakespeare's closest friend and the most conceited actor during the time, Ned Alleyn, provides comic relief through his sarcastic wit. Love this film, and I definitely recommend this to anyone and everyone. :).