A shrewd and charming romantic comedy.

Rating: 10/10 (31 July 2001)

A shrewd and charming romantic comedy about the well-known playright William Shakespeare (Joesph Fiennes), who's fighting a severe case of writer's block and the cure comes in the form of Lady Viola de Lessops (Gwyneth Paltrow). Set in London during the infamous Plague, the indomintable reign of Queen Elizabeth (Judi Dench), and only men (not women) portrayed women in staged plays. The Bard's latest play, a comedy that was originally titled as "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's daughter" then changed to "Romeo and Juilet", a romantic tragedy. Top-notch writing and directing and first-rate performances definitely make this film an instant classic hands down. There are plenty of funny moments throughout the movie and one notable example would be when Shakespeare and his actors get into a hilarious, all-out brawl with another theater owner and his men. Paltrow and Dench both won Oscars for their memorable performances and I'm happy that the film won "Best Picture" instead of "SAVING PRIVATE RYAN". Why Fiennes didn't get an Best Actor nomination baffles me even to this day. Rupert Everett appears here as Christopher Marlowe and is unbilled.