Contrived

Rating: 6/10 (17 June 1999)

This is a clever movie, no doubting that. However, it is not the best film of the year (1998). It makes number 10 of my top ten list of 1998. Here's why.
1)Gwyneth Paltrow. She is completely unconvincing when she is the guy. How did she get all that hair into that small wig? ( I know I am nit-picking.)
2)John Madden's direction. He simply did not deserve the nomination over directors like Sam Raimi, Todd Solondz, and Bill Condon.
3)The predictability. We know how this movie is going to end, because we know how Romeo and Juliet ends. It puts such a strain on such a long (not too long) movie.
I am not saying that there is no merit in this movie. It had a very witty script ( which still didn't deserve the Oscar over Life is Beautiful and The Truman Show) A great score, and magnificent performances by the rest of the cast.
7/10. Final word: See it once, though you won't be missing much if you don't.