This clever, sophisticated, brilliant movie won 7 Oscars, including best picture. Superb acting, wonderful costumes, comedy, tragedy, sensual love scenes, many familiar actors in surprising roles. There wasn't always much of an attempt to be historically accurate - the film is set in 1593 but alludes to plantations in Virginia and in a deleted scene to "America", but the viewer doesn't care about such things because they are overwhelmed and forgotten in the magnificence and perfection of the movie.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
If you're a fan of Shakespeare -- or if you like a good romantic comedy, but wonder what all the fuss was about back in 9th grade English -- get your hands on this DVD as soon as you can. If you know or care nothing about Shakespeare, you'll be won over by the first-rate acting, the attention to period detail and the witty dialogue. But if you are of that dying bread that still appreciates the art of the greatest writing the English language has ever produced, then you will be swept away by this charming evocation of Shakespeare's work and world. All the performances are uniformly solid; Joseph Fiennes brings a believably manic creative energy to his portrayal of Shakespeare. Dame Judy Dench earned a well-deserved Oscar for her small but pivotal contribution as a wise and magnanimous Queen Elizabeth. Yet it is Gwyneth Paltrow who steals the show as well as the heart of the Bard. She has never been more radiant, and she succeeds in communicating both strength and vulnerability in her role as a woman who longs to tread the boards in a world that barred her sex from the stage. Arguably, the star of the show, however, is the wonderful writing by playwright Tom Stoppard. Cleverly weaving countless alusions to Shakespeare's life and works into the dialogue (don't worry -- it doesn't hurt the movie a bit if you don't 'get' them), he makes a convincing case that Shakespeare created his classic 'Romeo and Juliet,' not in a burst of romantic inspiration, but out of the whole clothe of his day-to-day experiences. Far from a dusty and academic homage to a long-dead writer, 'Shakespeare in Love' is the sort of playful and appropriately exploitive turn on the old metaphor of theater as life that the Bard of Avon himself would have loved!Read full review
This has to be one of the best films I've seen in a long time. And it took me a long time until I actually saw it too. Ms. Paltrow is wonderful as a "fifth knight" take off and captures your attention in every scene. Colin Firth also plays a great "bad Guy", which surprised me after all his "Good Guy" roles. I highly recommend this for anyone who likes a good love story with all the circumplay. You will also find after seeing it more than once, you will notice things you didn't see before.
Flawless acting, beautiful setting and costumes, intelligent, fun and witty that is rich in culture and tradition, this film will transport the avid moviegoer to the majesty and glory of Victorian days in England. A very worthy of its Oscar wins including Best Picture and Actress for the charming and lovestruck Viola de Leseeps (played by the talented Gwyneth Paltrow). Young William Shakespeare is suffering from a writer's block but was inspired as he encounters his very own Juliet, making way for his creation of the classic Shakespearian play, "Romeo and Juliet". One needs not to be a Shakespearian scholar to catch the puns in this film. We don't see films like these anymore, with so much beauty, culture and the classic European elegance. Loved it and see it with someone you love!
I'd forgotten how many Academy awards were capyured by this movie back when Fiennes and Paltrow were so young. Judi Dench, Colin Firth and Geoffry Rush were all "scarey good" and Ben Affleck surprised me. See it again.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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