(thing) by Tlachtga Wed Mar 14 2001 at 2:05:41
Shakespeare in Love: 1998

Directed by John Madden
Written by Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman

Starring:

  • Joseph Fiennes: William Shakespeare
  • Gwyneth Paltrow: Viola de Lesseps
  • Geoffrey Rush: Philip Henslowe
  • Judi Dench: Queen Elizabeth I
  • Colin Firth: Lord Wessex
  • Ben Affleck: Ned Alleyn
  • Rupert Everett: Christopher Marlowe (uncredited)

    Oscar Awards:

  • Best Actress (Gwyneth Paltrow)
  • Best Art Direction
  • Best Costume Design
  • Best Music
  • Best Picture
  • Best Supporting Actress (Judi Dench)
  • Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (Marc Norman, Tom Stoppard)

    Maligned by some, celebrated by others, this pseudo-history of Shakespeare's early years gives to the Bard exactly what he gave to others--a brilliantly creative rewrite with lots of poetic license. Will, a struggling playwrite in Elizabethan London, falls in love with a young noblewoman named Viola. From there, it retells Romeo and Juliet, with a bit of mistaken identity, intrigue, and cross-dressing humor, all of which are directly lifted from Shakespeare's plays. The language sticks to the Elizabethan era, without feeling overwritten or fake.

    For any fan of Stoppard, this is a must-see. There are plenty of in-jokes for lovers of Shakespeare, and gives an interesting twist on the murder of Christopher Marlowe.

    "The consumptives plot against me--'Will Shakespeare has a new play; let's go cough through it!'"

    • I like it! 1 C!