One of the best films in the past five years

Rating: Null/10 (10 January 1999)

The filmwrights (Madden, Stoppard and Norman - together) have structured this well made film to parallel the structure of the play, "Romeo and Juliet" which is their supposed excuse for writing it. Most reviewers have missed this entirely, which means that the filmwrights have succeeded, the structure is not obtrusive, nor even obvious. It is very clear that they know the theatre history of the Age and feel free to tinker with it, lovingly and knowingly. They also evidence humor in their writing in entirely appropriate ways, as well as passion. How wonderful for lovers to woo each other with the lover's lines from "Romeo and Juliet!" This completely changes the love making scenes and enriches them. ALL the actors do a good job, including Ben Affleck. John Fiennes is especially good in the title role; with an expressive face and voice and familiarity with the lines. I would really like to see him make a film of another Shakespearean play -- or perform in a theatre production of Shakespeare. This is a delightful film - a film to love. Those are rare. Sergei Eisenstein, the great Russian director (Alexander Nevsky, Battleship Potemkin, Peter the Great) and author of the filmaker's bible, "Film Form & Film Sense" would approve this film.