Nice movie, poor story

Rating: 6/10 (6 September 2006)

Well of course I know that John Madden never intended to give us any accurate true episode of Shakespeare's life. But it reveals lack of imagination to base the plot of "Romeo and Juliet" on a totally invented love that would (could?) have happened between the playwright and a lady promised as a bride to a lord. But if you just forget this detail the movie is agreeable to watch, being a half-comedy and a half-tragedy. The best moments of the movie are the parts where the real play is performed since "Romeo and Juliet" keeps being the best and most beautiful love story ever written not matched at all by the love story narrated in the movie. One word of praise to Gwyneth Paltrow, her shining beauty and her splendid performance. Judi Dench as Queen Elizabeth acts also her part very well. But Joseph Fiennes is almost totally displaced as Shakespeare. Just only a goody-goody movie after all.