For Love of the Play...

Rating: Null/10 (14 April 2000)

It seems there's quite a bit of resentment directed towards this film, which I can't really understand. Yes, it was a surprise that it won Best Picture as opposed to Saving Private Ryan, but I view both films as being totally different and equally as worthy of winning the award. Shakespeare in Love is a beautiful love story, an incredibly funny and witty film, and a stunning visual masterpiece. For anyone who loves Shakespeare, literature, or the theater, this film is a celebration of that world. It is not a cliche - I can't think of any other film that similarly glorifies the fascinating world of the playhouse and the genius of the greatest playwright in history. We are transported back to Elizabethan England to experience what it must have been like to witness Shakespeare performed for the first time, and it is an exhilarating experience. If you've ever stood on a stage to take your bows, reveling in the applause from the audience, feeling that unique rush that only comes from a performance well-done, you'll appreciate this movie. Take another look at this film if you've only seen it once, and keep what I've said in mind.