Cleverly written, thoughtfully directed, well-performed

Rating: 10/10 (26 December 1998)

In an age of dumbed-down screenplays and often disappointing performances,screenwriters Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard and actress Gwyneth Paltrow offer a freshly clever relief in their new work, Shakespeare in Love. The script was daring, clever, funny and tragic at the same time. And Paltrow, quickly blossoming into one of Hollywood's best actresses, was enchanting. The fantastically appropriate costuming and set design along with the star-packed cast helped this intelligent project to reach its full potential. It is refreshing to know that the big studios can still put together something this smart.