Excellent script and tremendous imagery

Rating: 9/10 (10 March 1999)

Shakespeare In Love is a great film that is fully deserving of its 13 Oscar nominations. Everything about this film seems to click, working together like fine clockwork in order to hit perfection. I believe that if it wasn't for Mr. Spielberg and his scathing view of the battles of Normandy, this film would already have won Best Picture; no questions asked.
I had high expectations before going to see this film and later found myself not wanting to leave as the ending credits rolled across the screen, it was simply that good. Tom Stoppard wrote one of the most literary enchanted screenplays that I have ever heard, if you didn't watch this film rather only listened to it, the whole effect would still be there. The beautifully crafted love story, the constant inside jokes about Shakespeare and how he got some of his ideas, the effortless dialogue between supporting characters that added so much to the film and the interesting ideas presented (Romeo and Ethel, the pirate's daughter) make for a sure winner of Best Original Screenplay.
John Madden must also be commended for his work here regardless of the fact he really had quite a lot to work with. The film flows at an excellent pace throughout and at times has the quickness to tie in any scenes that may be lacking the full throttle. The presentation of the sets, characters and emotions are very clear and striking. The whole scene in which Romeo and Juliet was finally played was one of the greatest ever put together and had me sitting on the edge of my seat, without using any explosions or other devices that are so common in films today.
Gwyneth Palthow gives what I believe is her best performance to date and is surely Oscar material. She seems to radiate at all times on the screen, even when she is dressed as a boy. Her accent flows naturally and she manages to pull off tremendous beauty while still can be regarded as just another member of the play. Joseph Fiennes plays a young William Shakespeare as troubled at times like when he has writer's block and full of panache at times like when he finally finishes the play and all the while he falls in love with the mystical Viola (Gwyneth Palthow).
All supporting characters fully hit the mark, especially Geoffrey Rush as the bumbling Philip Henstowe. Perhaps he is at his best right at the beginning of the film when he is about to get his feet burnt off. Dame Judi Dench also gives a short yet strong performance as Queen Elizabeth. Regardless of what others may say about her lack of lines in the film, she still fully deserves a nomination for a supporting role since few others could have pulled it off quite like her. I love the scene in which she tells Viola's soon to be husband, Lord Essex about how she knows Viola has already been... well s*****d if you will. This is pure cinematic gold.
I really loved this film, although it still ranks below Saving Private Ryan as my best of 1998. Even though I believe that Ryan will win for Best Picture, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Shakespeare snuck in and stole it from right underneath Spielberg.
9/10 stars.