This movie is my favorite film of all time.

Rating: 10/10 (11 July 1999)

The first time I went to see 'Shakespeare in Love,' I went because the commercials on television were hilarious. So, I went to see it opening day (Christmas), but that isn't extremely special because I see movies on holidays as a rule. When I left the theatre, I was in love with the film, and the more I thought about the more I loved it. Later that day, I went to see 'The Prince of Egypt' and 'Stepmom.' Really bad and decent, respectively. I thought of them in comparison to 'Shakespeare in Love,' and they got worse and worse and 'Shakespeare in Love' got better and better.
And why shouldn't it? Gwyneth Paltrow turns out an amazing performance especially since she is using an accent, speaking in verse, and playing four parts (Viola, Thomas, Romeo, and Juliet). She is also phenomenal in the way she can switch from being horridly funny to evoking tears. Joseph Fiennes no less of an actor than she. He brings such life to someone seen as a god to many and he is so believable as this writing giant. Geoffery Rush is absolutely hilarious as Mr. Henslowe. I must say that he will make you roll in the aisles. Then of course there is Judi Dench, who has a meek 8 and a half minutes of screentime but is so awesome that she won Best Supporting Actress. And last, there is Ben Affleck, who also has a small role as Ned Alleyn (the prima donna of the group), but will make you laugh so hard that you will beg for mercy. I'm really not kidding, he has the best lines.
Now, if performances aren't enough to make you see it, there are the costumes. Or the music. The music has to be one of the best scores I've ever heard. Or there's the fights (yes, there are fights in a Shakespearean film), which are hilarious, tense, and full of suspense.
So, if I've been able to laugh at every joke all fourteen (yes, you read it correctly, 14) times that I've seen 'Shakespeare in Love,' I think you'll enjoy it at least once.