Very enjoyable, not so much for the leading couple

Rating: 8/10 (18 April 2005)

When I first saw Shakespeare in love in 1998, Gwyneth Paltrow had just won her Oscar, and I was mostly curious about that. So what I remember from then is that indeed, she impressed me for being so luminous, giving a passionate, yet fresh performance, something that alas, she hasn't been quite able to reiterate so far... Now watching it again on DVD, I'm only sorry that I don't care much for the Viola/Will relationship. Joseph Fiennes plays well, but he looks dull, and at the same time too modern and not exactly a credible Shakespeare. Otherwise, it's a delightful movie. The basis idea is very interesting, it's cleverly written, perfectly directed, it provides us with some moments of pure comedy, and the costumes are gorgeous. But its best quality lies in that exceptional gallery of supporting characters (with the possible exception of Ben Affleck, mostly being Ben Affleck in breeches). They're all three dimensional, often hilarious, played by the cream of British actors with the likes of Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Rupert Everett, Geoffrey Rush... And the most enjoyable maybe being the always wonderful (and handsome) Colin Firth, as the "villain", irritating, laughable Lord Wessex, managing to make touching, lovable and still utterly funny a character who has all the circumstances against him. To the point that I don't understand why Viola is complaining!