A Most Intelligent, Lyrical, Piquant Introduction To Shakespeare's World

Rating: 7/10 (25 January 2014)

I am confident that Shakespeare In Love would be much more appreciated today had it not actually won. The primary nominees that everyone seems to believe to be the deserving winner, in this order, are: Saving Private Ryan, The Thin Red Line, or Life Is Beautiful. But mostly it is Saving Private Ryan. I am not going to digress anymore into why Shakespeare In Love did indeed win, whether it was all about politics, who really deserved it that year, etc., because it is not of any real importance. It did win, and it was a deserving film, regardless of its competition that year.
Shakespeare In Love tells the story of the one and only William Shakespeare; specifically, his inspiration for his greatest masterpiece, Romeo & Juliet. The year is 1593 and Shakespeare (Fiennes) is a playwright at The Rose Theater. His current play is titled "Romeo & Ethel: The Pirate's Daughter"; it isn't going very well and he cannot seem to finish it (he even tries some mystical spell for a muse, a lady he finds in bed with another man soon thereafter). Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway, is currently residing in another city and he soon falls in love with a young maiden, Viola de Lesseps (Paltrow), whom he first sees at a performance for The Queen (Elizabeth, Dench), then at a ball.
Despite being unable to finish writing it, Shakespeare commences casting for his play, with the assistance of Ned Alleyn (Ben Affleck). He meets a young man with obvious talent, "Sir Thomas Kent". Kent is really, of course, Viola. He eventually finds out Kent's true identity and thus begins their rendezvous and love affair.
Alas, in the sixteenth century, their love cannot be fulfilled. Not only is William Shakespeare already married and divorce impossible, but, seemingly coincidentally, Viola is betrothed to Lord Wessex (Firth), whom everyone realizes is marrying for the de Lessep's wealth. Discovering Viola's assignations with Shakespeare, he seeks revenge. Shakespeare, himself now disguised as a girl (Viola's cousin), reveals the identity of her lover to be Christopher Marlowe, friend and rival playwright. The news of Marlowe's death (murder) causes Shakespeare much guilt, and Viola is anguished, being led to believe it is Shakespeare. She is greatly relieved to find out the truth. On opening night, Viola is able to play Juliet along Shakespeare's Romeo, despite the sexist policy of male actors only, because she is the only one available whom knows the lines. Their performance, of course, dazzles the audience. At the conclusion of a truly passionate Romeo & Juliet performance, The Master Of The Revels arrives, having discovered Kent's true identity. Kent/de Lesseps is saved by The Queen, whom, rather than reveal what she knows, stealthily lets Viola know that it is time her to marry Lord Wessex and say goodbye to "Sir Thomas Kent" and, therefore, Shakespeare. In one of the most poetic and tender farewell scenes, Viola and Shakespeare express their love to each other for the last time.
Typically, I do not like Shakespeare of any sort, be it a live play, film, book. I am not a fan of Latin and/or Elizabethan English. All the more impressive, then, that I thoroughly liked Shakespeare In Love. And it was pretty funny! It is always difficult to write an original comedy, let alone set in a different time period, in Elizabethan English! The costuming, of course, was amazing. It is always impressive to see a film that is able to transport the audience to a different era. The award- winning score was beautiful, as was set design.
Dench, as evidenced by her less than ten minute Academy Award winning performance, was magnificent. She was exactly how I imagine a true Queen to be: overbearing, pretentious, ostensibly bitchy, but kind-hearted when needed. Paltrow was elegant and alluring as Viola, with a performance I did not necessarily believe to be her best or even Academy Award Winning, but commendable nonetheless. Finnes was well-casted in this definitive role. Probably my favorite character, yet inexplicably under appreciated by most, is Nurse (Imelda Staunton). I loved not only how loyal and loving she was to Viola, but also watching her nervously try to cover for her, like when she was in the rocking chair as the two of them were clearly making love in the next room. Other supporting characters were also convincing. At the end of the day, however, what makes this film so deserving of its accolades, is the writing. One of the most quotable films I have seen in a while, and in such poetic, eloquent, grandiloquent words!
"My story starts at sea, a perilous voyage to an unknown land. A shipwreck. The wild waters roar and heave. The brave vessel is dashed all to pieces. And all the helpless souls within her drowned. All save one. A lady. Whose soul is greater than the ocean, and her spirit stronger than the sea's embrace. Not for her a watery end, but a new life beginning on a stranger shore. It will be a love story. For she will be my heroine for all time. And her name will be Viola."
... And thus begins William Shakespeare's next great play, The Twelfth Night...