Rating: 
Summary: The Bard would be pleased, methinks
Review: This is the kind of movie the Academy loves and through its love, rewards.The script by Stoppard and Norman is erudite and cunning, passionate and playful, filled with witticisms by and about the Bard; and the parallels to Shakespeare and his work, especially the play within a play, Romeo and Juliet, and the play to come, Twelfth Night, are marvelous and a bit miraculous. The romantic direction by Madden conjures up an Elizabethan England and its London theatre with enough lusty color to delight the poet himself. The acting is wonderful with Gwyneth Paltrow conquering a very demanding and delightful four-part role as Viola/Tom Kent, and on the stage as first Romeo and then as Juliet! Joseph Fiennes as the young Shakespeare writing his Romeo and Juliet on the fly, fired with the energy from his adulterous love for the lovely Viola, is better than advertised. Of course what would a Shakespearean play or a great Hollywood movie be without its bit players and supporting roles? Judi Dench as the queen in her Academy Award winning performance gives the impression of somebody doing something marvelously well but with such ease as to look unemployed. (I stole that line from somewhere.) From the gutter snipe with his rodents to the queen's bad teeth, from Colin Firth's delightfully villainous Lord Wessex to Geoffrey Rush's wise, but bumbling stage manager, from the tavern trollops to the gentry at the ball (in which the sonnet within a play from Romeo and Juliet is once again given life by Fiennes and Paltrow) everything is expertly presented. You don't have to be a Shakespearean buff to appreciate this resplendent romantic comedy, but if you are, your experience will be enhanced. This is Hollywood at its best. For all the clunkers and the mass-mindless indulgences that are the usual fare-tinsel town, you are forgiven!
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining
Review: Anyone who has been involved with a theatrical production will appreciate this movie. It's fun, entertaining and well directed. It would probably help to be familiar with the works of Shakespeare, and the writers took some pretty huge creative liberties with his life (most notably white-washing over the fact that he was married at the time.) It's not exactly what I'd call Best Picture material, but if you can overlook a few minor flaws you'll enjoy this movie.
Rating:
Summary: A fabulous comedy.
Review: While conventional thoughts might lead you to believe that a film directed by John Madden and starring Gwyneth Paltrow would be a very serious dramatic production, let me disregard you of that notion right now. "Shakespeare in Love" is a smart comedy as well as a drama. It brilliantly balances the two genre's into one entertaining film and we get to see a fabulous Oscar winning performance by Paltrow. Joseph Fiennes also gives a memorable performance, even though he was snubbed at the Osacars. Paltrow looks more glamorous than ever before, and the film is a smart and funny tribute to the greates playwrite that ever lived.
Rating:
Summary: Mixed Feelings....
Review: While I appreciate a good romantic comedy, I guess I have not studied Shakespeare enough to be appreciative of the "wit?" in this movie. Could someone tell me why this was supposed to be the most original comedy? I am not sure what is wrong with some movies, but I think it is a lack of character development. In order to follow the story, we must become emotionally involved, become one of the characters, in that way we can live through the character and feel what they are feeling. This did not happen in this movie! I felt that the characters did not have any romance before falling all over one another. True romance beats any sex scene any day. There did not seem to be any romance, just lust. It isn't that I didn't like the movie, it is just that I was dissapointed. With such claims as "One of the Year's Best!" I expect more! If you don't know much about Shakespeare's life, then skip it! If you think Joseph Fiennes is keeping this movie together...he is. I have now seen three of his movies, Elizabeth was his best acting. He is also great in the romantic comedy: The very thought of you, that is actually funny. Gwyneth is cute and they have good chemistry...... but the scenes where he is kissing her with her mustache on are a bit well....strange. I also thought there was too much crudeness in the movie. I thought the score did not work well and did not inspire the right emotions at the right times. It is just Romeo and Juliet and in a way it is like watching one big rehearsal and a few love scenes. Basically a girl wants to be an actor and fools everyone into thinking she is a man. Then, Shakespeare finds out she is a woman and they are all over eachother all the time from then on. I hope one day someone makes a movie about Shakespeare which will truly honor his memory. I just didn't feel that this was how he was, what he wrote was funny, this movie is not! I also thought a movie about Shakespeare should include more of his life and not just his sex life, um ..yeah. Perhaps it was just for the intellectuals, although I do have a few books on Shakespeare. Guess I need to see more plays and then watch this movie again, but on second thoughts, I think I'll just pass and go watch The Very Thought of You or Elizabeth.
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Film, but it robbed the Oscar for Best Picture
Review: When "Shakespeare In Love" won the Oscar for best picture, beating out Saving Private Ryan, I figured it must be an exceptionally good picture. This was before I saw it. Not to say that this film isn't good, but it certainly doesn't invoke the sense of deep thought and emotion that Saving Private Ryan did. The two pictures are certainly different. This one is an accurate portrayal of late 16th century London, where we find the young Shakespeare with a serious case of writer's block. He desperately needs to come up with a new play for some much needed money, and his inspiration comes when he sees Lady Viola (Gwyneth Paltrow) and falls, well, in love. Viola is a great fan of literature and plays, and wants nothing more than to act in one. However, at the time, women were not allowed to act, and so she has to disguise herself as a young man (this added to the comedic aspect of the film, and was even charming). Needless to say, Viola ends up being cast as Juliet in Shakespeare's new play, and it is fun to watch the two act together on stage, because no one else knows who Juliet really is. In terms of a romantic comedy, this movie does very well. It is full of the witty dialogue and genuine, intellectual humor that is found only in the best of movies. The only problem I have with the romance in this movie is the amount of kissing. The camera can't seem to get away from them. The relationship between Viola and Shakespeare seems built more around lovey-dovey kissing than anything else. In all other ways, however, the film succeeds. The play, when it is finally acted out, is a superb climax. The whole movie is lighthearted and fun, and would be suitable for all ages were it not for the sexual overtones.
Rating:
Summary: shakespear in love
Review: I loved it more every time I watched it!
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant but why the Oscars?
Review: Oh yes the movie is Great in many aspects: 1. Great acting job by Joseph Fiennes. I loved his spirit. His voice roars on theater as Romeo and the poems are a song of love. 2. The costumes are brilliantly made especially for the queen (Judi Dench) and beautiful Viola De Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow). 3. Great directing job by (John Madden), great Screenplay and very touchy OST especially at the dancing party (I loved the music and dancing). As an overall this is a nice romantic movie but I do not think it deserves all the Oscars fuss. Not that it's not good or a waste of time but you just can't justify all the awards! Still no matter what, I recommend watching this nice film.
Rating:
Summary: LOVELY
Review: Simply put, this is a WONDERFUL movie, make sure to see it! It's funny, romantic, meaningful, and more!!! Great acting!!! I just love the script to this movie, it's fantastic!
Rating:
Summary: Tom Stoppard is brilliant
Review: As a Shakespeare lover, I have to say that this play does what Stoppard's other famous work, "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead" also did, and that is to make you reevaluate the Bard's work in a new way. The writing is clever and witty, the cinematography is simply gorgeous, and the story is enthralling. I perhaps enjoyed R&G are dead a little more for its philosophical leanings, this film doesn't fall pray to the sight gags that R&G employs quite often(although always humorously). The film has Stoppard's trademark tongue-in-cheek inside references to Shakespeare's work, and in even the most serious moments, the viewer has to smile a little at the cleverness with which this is written. But it isn't merely a clever film, it is a beautiful film, and the love story between Fiennes and Paltrow is passionate, at times sad, but ultimately redeeming. Definately deserving of its Oscars.
Rating:
Summary: Lovely, handsome and entertaining
Review: Shakespeare in Love Score: 87/100 In the year of 1998, Shakespeare in Love gathered 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture and proved that it wasn't only the big money-making/period pieces/war films/'human' dramas etc., but the comedies also get a special mention, and Shakespeare in Love deserves a very special mention because it is such a greatly moving film with plenty of romance and a bag full of laughs! Will Shakespeare's (Joseph Fiennes) life is going badly. His love life is a shambles, he's always short of money, and worst of all, he has writer's block. He's supposed to be nearly finished his newest play, "Romeo and Ethel the Sea Pirate's Daughter", but in fact he hasn't written a line. At a sham audition for the play, he admires a new actor, Thomas Kent, who suddenly runs away. Soon Shakespeare meets Viola de Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow), who lives in the same stately home as Thomas; it's love at first sight and he's inspired to begin writing the play. But by the time he realises that Thomas is Viola in disguise, she's promised in marriage to a lord, which means that Queen Elizabeth herself expects the marriage to happen. But Will and Viola find their attraction too strong to resist; they risk the wrath of her fiancée with a clandestine affair, and of the law against women on stage by having "Thomas" play Romeo. No wonder he ends up changing the play into a tragedy... John Madden's direction is solid and his take on how Romeo and Juliet came to be one of the most romantically engaging stories of all time is portrayed with dazzling style and emotional feeling. In fact, the film may be even better than the Romeo and Juliet film, which is quite astonishing and shows the film has astounding power. The only flaw in the film is its useless swordfights which create hardly any tension and involve Ben Affleck, who is very good in this film. The other actors are also extremely impressive, Joseph Fiennes commendable turn as Shakespeare is highly entertaining to watch, Gwyneth Paltrow is a lovely romantic touch, although not half as good as Cate Blanchett, the more deserving winner for 1998's Best Actress Oscar. Not to worry, though, Paltrow is still impressive, as is Geoffrey Rush, Colin Firth and Judi Dench, the movie's highlight as the argumentative and witty queen. Fabulously bold and endlessly handsome, Shakespeare in Love is a great way to spend 2 hours of your day. But just one warning, you'll be spending more than 2 hours with this film. You'll watch it so many times that the hours you spend on it may add up to as high as 102!
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