By: Mike Redman
August 23rd, 1999

It seems every few years there's a Shakespeare revival, with one of his works being re-made for today's cinema audience. This is almost the case with "Shakespeare In Love", except no play is being remade; this film is a chronicle of William Shakespeare's life.

It's not truly a chronicle of Shakespeare's life, but rather an estimate of one period in his life. It's interesting, because this story roughly follows the plot of the play he is writing at the time, "Romeo & Juliet". The plot of this film is that a woman named Violet (Gwyneth Paltrow) is an aspiring actress who has only one major flaw: she's a woman. During the time of Elizabethan England, women were not supposed to want such professions, and were certainly not allowed to act in a theater performance. So, Violet gets a wig and a fake mustache and lands the part of Romeo in the play. Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) discovers her secret and falls in love with her. Even if he didn't love her, he wouldn't want to rat her out, because he knows that if she is found to be a woman, he could lose his production and stage. This would be bad for the struggling playwright.

I think the reason that Shakespeare's plays have lasted so long an have such universal appeal is that he knew the truths of human nature. He understood that to live was to express emotions. That's why his plays have a plethora of emotions mixed together: love, hate, loyalty, distrust, betrayal, humor, tragedy, and so many others. The film follows this theme to a "t". There is so much jumbled together that it seems the film is less about Shakespeare than BY Shakespeare.

There is the love between Shakespeare and Violet, the hate between Shakespeare and Violet's fiance and shakespeare and those who want to shut him down, Violet's loyalty to both her fiance and Shakespeare, the distrust of the actors that Shakespeare will finish his play, the betrayal of the audience and cast that Violet is a man, and the final tragedy where Shakespeare and Violet part ways. There are also sword fights and puns using old theater phrases. This movie may sound like a corny romantic comedy, but it's not; it's a good film with more than just romance to offer everyone who sees it. It's got enough violence and action to please guys who see it.

I can see how this movie would have won best picture over "Saving Private Ryan". It has a broader appeal, especially to those who were turned off to the realistic gore in "Ryan". I really can't judge between the two films, because they were just so different. But "Shakespeare In Love" is deserving of the awards it has received.

Gwyneth Paltrow was the saving grace of this film, as if it needed it. She is a wonderfully talented actress (who plays such actress, oddly enough) who has all of her skills on display. Including her "bubbies," as one actor puts it. This is one film where the showing of cleavage was actually done for arts' sake, during a few passionate scenes Paltrow plays with Fiennes. All of the other actors shine in their roles, but Paltrow shines the most.

Overall, this film is one of the better films I've seen this summer. On my scale of -5 to 5, I'd give it a 3. Everything about this film was perfect from start to finish. There's something for everyone in it. Even if romantic films gross you out, this movie is worth watching, because there's not that much romantic stuff. See it, one of the few movies I'll say that for.

See this movie if: you're a Shakespeare fan, you enjoy superb acting, you have an appreciation of the performing arts, you want to see Gwyneth Paltrow's "bubbies" (but you may be disappointed), you want to see an overall good movie.

Don't see this movie if: you had a traumatic experience involving Shakespeare in high school, you're looking for hot guys, you need to see gunfights and fist fights every five minutes in a film.

Overall score: 3