Movie Description
In this well-conceived Elizabethan comedy, writers Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman ask the question: Who was William Shakespeare's muse? The answer: Viola de Lesseps, a young noblewoman who dreams of acting on a man's stage. The screenwriters deliver a cleverly crafted scenario which beautifully illustrates both the early aspirations of the playwright, and a glimpse into the culture of Elizabethan theater. Colorful characters, like the Globe theater owner Henslow (played by Geoffrey Rush), the lead player in the troupe (Ben Affleck), and the Queen herself (Judi Dench), give the cast charm, wit, and feasibility. The young playwright who at the start of the film is experiencing writer's block bursts forth with a lyrical text inspired by the lovely and passionate Viola. Ultimately this film is about the making of a great play, but most importantly it is about the power of words.
| Credits | | Producer: | Donna Gigliotti, Edward Zwick, Harvey Weinstein, Marc Norman | | Cast: | Colin Firth, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jim Carter, Mark Williams |
Editorial Reviews
"...Style and subject are ideally matched....[Rush] is increasingly superb..."
Sight and Sound - p.53-4 - Philip Kemp
"You can't miss with a movie that speaks the language of love with such hot-blooded delight....[SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE] spins delicious magic..."
Rolling Stone - p.84 - Peter Travers
"...A romance of exuberant theatricality and wit....Infused with the lifeblood of Shakespeare's passion..." -- Rating: A
Entertainment Weekly - p.45 - Owen Gleiberman
"...One of the year's smartest and funniest comedies..." -- 3 1/2 out of 4 stars
USA Today - p.4D - Mike Clark
"...It soars freely into the realm of invention, wittily weaving Shakespearean language and emotion into an intoxicatingly glamorous romance..."
New York Times - p.E16 - Janet Maslin
"...An inspired re-imagining of history and deft look at the relationship between art and life..."
Box Office - L.J. Strom (01/01/1999)
"...Smoothly executed....[Fiennes] has the burning eyes and brooding demeanor appropriate for a lover, and he and Paltrow, flourishing once again under a British accent and doing her best work since EMMA, have a winning chemistry..."
Los Angeles Times - Kenneth Turan (12/11/1998)
Awards
1998Academy AwardsBest ActressGwyneth Paltrow, 1998Academy AwardsBest Adapted or Musical Song/ScoreStephen Warbeck, 1998Academy AwardsBest Original ScreenplayMarc Norman, 1998Academy AwardsBest Original ScreenplayTom Stoppard, 1998Academy AwardsBest Picture, 1998Academy AwardsBest Supporting ActressJudi Dench, 1999Academy AwardsBest Supporting ActressJudi Dench
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