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Movies / On DVD / Shakespeare in Love
Shakespeare in Love

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Shakespeare in Love (1998)

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93 %
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Reviews Counted: 101

Fresh: 94

Rotten:7

Average Rating: 8.1/10

Consensus: An delightful romantic comedy that succeeds at every level.

Runtime: 2 hrs 3 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: In this well-conceived Elizabethan comedy, writers Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman ask the question: Who was William Shakespeare's muse? The answer: Viola de Lesseps, a young noblewoman who dreams of... In this well-conceived Elizabethan comedy, writers Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman ask the question: Who was William Shakespeare's muse? The answer: Viola de Lesseps, a young noblewoman who dreams of acting on a man's stage. The screenwriters deliver a cleverly crafted scenario which beautifully illustrates both the early aspirations of the playwright, and a glimpse into the culture of Elizabethan theater. Colorful characters, like the Globe theater owner Henslow (played by Geoffrey Rush), the lead player in the troupe (Ben Affleck), and the Queen herself (Judi Dench), give the cast charm, wit, and feasibility. The young playwright who at the start of the film is experiencing writer's block bursts forth with a lyrical text inspired by the lovely and passionate Viola. Ultimately this film is about the making of a great play, but most importantly it is about the power of words. [More]

Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Ben Affleck

Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Ben Affleck, Judi Dench, Colin Firth, Simon Callow, Jim Carter, Martin Clunes, Antony Sher, Imelda Staunton, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Williams

Director: John Madden

Director: John Madden
Screenwriter: Marc Norman, Tom Stoppard
Producer: David Parfitt, Donna Gigliotti, Harvey Weinstein, Edward Zwick, Marc Norman
Composer: Stephen Warbeck

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Aug 10, 1999

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Shakespeare in Love

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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A cleverly scripted reworking of a period comedy.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
02/20/08
Channel 4 Film

Accessible, entertaining and fun for modern audiences. Exquisitely acted, tightly directed and impressively assembled, this lively period piece is the kind of arty gem with potentially broad appeal that Miramax certainly knows how to sell.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
02/20/08
Lael Loewenstein
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Wastes no time setting itself up as a rowdy, colloquial piece of popular entertainment -- the furthest thing from a fussy biopic of the Bard.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
09/23/07
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

It is clear that everyone in the film is having a great time with the material, and it is contagious.

Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
07/14/07
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound

Henslowe may be onto something when he jokes that all audiences want is love and a bit with the dog, but this film delivers much more.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
02/05/07
Sandra Contreras
TV Guide's Movie Guide

It's easy to suspend disbelief and embrace this historically creative fiction, whose clever relationship to what's known and what's unresolved is part of what makes it so intriguing and so romantic.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
02/05/07
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A sumptuous fictional glimpse into the creative mind of one of history's most brilliant theatrical minds.

Full Review Source: Oscar Guy | comment Comment
01/04/07
Wesley Lovell
Oscar Guy

A rare crowd pleasing movie that's smartly written and splendidly acted, representing a combination of poetry, art, and entertainment that does justice to the Bard's own comedies.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
12/03/06
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

It's the performances which push this to a very high level.

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
10/30/06
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons

It's Tom Stoppard's witty, intelligent script which proves so satisfying.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Derek Adams
Time Out

Shakespeare in Love moves fast, and may deserve multiple viewings. It's a delicious feast of lowbrow and highbrow mixed with romance.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
05/26/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

It's a literary burlesque, remarkably clever and quick on its feet. It is ardently romantic but is at its best when it is funny. And it's funny.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
07/21/05
Jeff Millar
Houston Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The matter of fact telling of just how young Will got many of his ideas is leavened with all the elements of great film and [director John] Madden balances them all with grace, style and skill.

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
04/09/05
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews

Although Shakespeare in Love benefits from a delightful screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard -- and a flattering one, for viewers who can congratulate themselves on recognizing this or that tatter of the Bard -- the film's virtues peter out.

Full Review Source: Nation | comment Comment
03/03/05
Stuart Klawans
Nation

It has powerful language and a wealth of talent as its distinguishing marks, but it shies away, curiously, from poetry, subtlety, and art whenever the lovers embrace, and we’re left with no heroes or heroines worth swooning for.

Full Review Source: Looking Closer | comment Comment
12/06/04
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer

A nothing movie. Gossamer-thin, the slightest breeze will blow it from our collective memories.

comment 2 Comments
07/05/04
Martin Scribbs
Low IQ Canadian

The greatest enjoyment of the film is for those who are familiar with Shakespeare's plays.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
05/25/04
Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews

A tale of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy.

Full Review Source: Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL) | comment Comment
06/19/03
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

It is a mature, adult romantic comedy, with enough swashbuckling, humor and love scenes to keep everyone interested.

Full Review Source: Film Blather | comment Comment
05/22/03
Eugene Novikov
Film Blather

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
05/14/03
Jeanne Aufmuth
Palo Alto Weekly
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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