Predictability kills

Rating: 5/10 (24 August 2009)

Greatly overrated minorpiece that deals with a fictitious tale about Shakespeare falling in love with one of his contemporary fans.
Here's what's wrong with it:
Story: basically it's quite a nice story with some interesting plot lines. Unfortunately, the director decided not to make it too difficult for his intended big audience, so predictability kills surprise in almost every scene. No character twists either, everyone stays safely inside their dictated personage. I had the futile hope that Juliette would really stab herself to death with the dagger in the last scene of the play, but alas.
Casting: the biggest flaw of the film. I understand the fact that American actors are hired to play Britons, I guess you just can't do without some Hollywood celebs in such a venture. But Gwyneth Paltrow? Joseph Fiennes?? Ben Affleck??? OK, Fiennes is British, but has absolutely no charisma and must have been used just for his good looks. Firth and Dench are quite alright but have only minor parts.
Humor: I get sick of this kind of childish, predictable, unwitty and totally unfunny humor. I'm guessing I'm not the only one.
All in all a very mediocre film, despite the fact that it was the big winner at the Oscars (which is a big farce anyhow).