1998 Was a Strange Year

Rating: 7/10 (25 February 2015)

A young Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes), out of ideas and short of cash, meets his ideal woman (Gwyneth Paltrow, not Anne Hathaway) and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays.
In smaller roles (but still appreciated), are the great actors Ben Affleck and Rupert Everett. Affleck may not have appreciated a very naked Gwenyth Paltrow pressed up against Shakespeare, as they were dating at the time. But, that is how Hollywood works.
1998 must have been a strange year. Although I watched many movies that year, I had not yet caught the "Oscar bug" and was more interested in the fantastic film genres. In many ways, I still am, but my views have broadened significantly. Anyway... this film walked away with seven awards, including "Best Picture". Reflecting years later (2015), was it the best film of that year? Although the category was smaller then (five films rather than today's eight or nine), one jumps out as the better film: "Saving Private Ryan". Certainly, it is better known and far more influential. This film, in contrast, is decent but nothing more than a historical love story (with no real history supporting it).