Methinks this one will play well at the Palace! Yoicks!

Rating: 10/10 (10 January 1999)

"Shakespeare in Love" is a grand, rollicking film about, well, Shakespeare in love, which impels him write Romeo &...uh...Ethel. Fabulous costuming and sets, lighting & directing. And the production designer is a genius, somehow creating Shakespeare's London and its people as it has never been done on film before. Wonderfully funny and real, the screenplay is top-notch, the dialogue true-to-life and hilariously contemporary, yet somehow Shakespearean at the same time.
The musical score left something to be desired, in this reviewer's opinion; it was a bit too...modern...and didn't add to the ambience of the film at all.
Joseph Fiennes did a fine job as Shakespeare; comedic, passionate, crazy, moody...but he looked too much like the artist formerly known as Prince, and that was disconcerting.
Gwyneth Paltrow was perfect in her role as Shakespeare's love and as Romeo in the stage play, as was her terrific nurse, who was wise and funny. The mouse-boy was done so well it was almost scary. Ben Affleck's characterization and interpretation of his role was beyond incredible, as was the memorable portrayal of Queen Elizabeth by Judi Dench...kudos for both!
This is a joyous, lilting, lyrical evening at the movies!