For those of you that immediately flinch when the name Shakespeare is mentioned, and who have all but put seeing this movie out of your mind as a result, let me assure you that this movie is not a drab, dull march down the musty halls of a literary torture chamber. Not at all. Shakespeare in Love is one of the most intelligent, romantic movies to come from Hollywood in a long time.
The movie begins with theatre owner Phillipe Henslow (Geoffrey Rush) being pressured by a creditor named Fennyman (Tom Wilkinson.) It seems Henslow’s theatre, the Rose, is having a bit of a cash-flow problem. Henslow promises a new comedy by William Shakespeare, called Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter, will soon be packing them in at the Rose and the money problems will be over. Fennyman, liking the sound of this, takes a controlling interest in the play to make sure he gets his money back.
The problem is that Will Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) hasn’t even begun to write this comedy. In fact, he feels that he’s unable to write at all. His “quill is broken,” he tells his psychiatrist-cum-fortune teller. He feels he cannot write unless he finds his muse.
When the creditors put another pinch on Henslow, he holds auditions for his yet unfinished production. Arriving to try out is a curious individual named Thomas Kent, who sparks Will’s interest with an impassioned reading from one of his works, rather than something from rival Christopher Marlowe (Rupert Everett).
Thomas Kent, however, is not a man at all. He is, in fact, a woman named Viola De Lesseps, who’s in love with the words of Shakespeare, if not the man. So much does she desire to be an actor, that she dresses up as a man to pursue her dream. (It is forbidden for women to take the stage.) Through a wild chain of events, Thomas Kent takes the role of Romeo as Viola takes the role of Shakespeare’s lover and muse. The main problem — and no love story is complete without one — is that Viola is scheduled to marry Lord Wessex (Colin Firth), who’s more interested in Viola’s dowry than her intelligence and wit.
Shakespeare in Love presents an unusual combination of modern humor, literary references, educated wit and stunning performances from its entire cast. When a movie combines actors as varied as Judi Dench, known for her Shakespearean performances, and Ben Affleck, of Good Will Hunting, you know something strange, but charming is afoot.
And, speaking of the cast, Gwyneth Paltrow is absolutely fantastic as Viola. She proves, as did Kate Winslet’s Rose in last year’s Titanic, that a woman need not be loaded with silicone and collagen to be radiant on screen. Intelligence, wit and humor go a lot further to elevate a woman’s sexuality than sheer looks. (Although Paltrow does not lack in that department either.) Joseph Fiennes, brother of Ralph, is excellent as the distraught Will Shakespeare. It’s a shame that he was overlooked in the Oscar nominations this year. The chemistry between Paltrow and Fiennes is very strong, much stronger than the overwrought romance from a certain sinking ship movie.
Of course, the cast needs a great script, and this movie has one. Writers Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard manage to keep things moving at a great pace and, along with John Madden’s direction, keep the film from ever becoming bogged down in unnecessary prattle.
Shakespeare in Love has garnered a truckload of Oscar nominations, and deserves all of them. I will be especially disappointed if Gwyneth Paltrow and John Madden walk away empty-handed on Oscar night.
Needless to say, I loved this film. If you’ve been starving for an intelligent, literate comedy that’s not afraid to be sexy at the same time, you’ve got to get yourself to see Shakespeare in Love. This is a film that deserves an audience.
5.0 out of 5.0 stars
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