call me a romantic...

Rating: 8/10 (31 August 2007)

This movie asks this question: what if William Shakespeare had lived the life of Romeo during the writing of Romeo and Juliet? As Shakespeare falls for a girl high above his rank, pursues her in shadows and behind stage walls, and comes to blows with her noble suitor and the whole of England, the action of Shakespeare in Love and scenes of Romeo and Juliet weave in and out of each other with style and grace.
Stories such as these can usually be called contrived, and indeed might be called such here, but somehow, I just don't care. Maybe it's the artist in me, or maybe (and more probably) it's the acting, directing, and screen writing, but I couldn't help but be charmed, pulled in, and thoroughly affected by this wonderful film. At every turn the acting and writing managed to provide beautiful romance while sidestepping the dangers of being stilted and contrived as the two stories are made to coincide. The result is a natural, livable story that disarmed me and kept me with it dramatically. Paltrow's radiance and range pulled me in and I fell in love with her just as Shakespeare was. Fiennes's performance was just unassuming enough--then explosive!-- to make me let my guard down, empathize, fear, and hope with his character. The glorious ensemble cast, including the indomitable Judi Dench and the realistic and human Geoffrey Rush put the last nail in the coffin of any doubts. This movie was impeccably executed, and that freed me to enjoy it! Well done, crew. It's a writer's dream realized.