Good -- but a disappointment

Rating: 6/10 (24 March 1999)

First of all - the movie is good. It is not so good, however, that it deserved an Oscar. A case of lobbyism, I presume. The plot is quite fascinating and I am impressed by the writer. But it seems like there is still something missing in the movie. It is rather tiresome sometimes, and there are no really hilarious scenes. And why did Will and Viola 'get their kits off' so soon? That was a disappointment.
As for the acting, Ben Affleck was great in his small part which came as a bit of a surprise for me. Joseph Fiennes has charisma, but I believe Affleck would have been better cast as Shakespeare. Judi Dench is of course great, not to mention Geoffrey Rush and Colin Firth. The real disappointment was Gwyneth Paltrow. It is a shame that she was in the movie at all, she basically destroyed it for me.
I *did* like it though and give it: 6/10.