Film Review

"Shakespeare in Love" (1998)

Director:  John Madden

Cast: Joseph Fiennes as William Shakespeare, Gwyneth Paltrow as Viola de Lesseps, Geoffrey Rush as Philip Henslowe, Colin Firth as Lord Wessex, Judi Dench as Queen Elizabeth I.

Synopsis: In glory days of the Elisabeth theater two playhouses were fighting for writing and audience. The first one was the Curtain Theater  the house to England’s most famous actor, Richard Burbage. And the second one was built by Philip Henslowe, a businessman who hardly made both ends meet, the Rose, where Shakespeare’s new play was put.

Review: Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush) demanded a play from William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) – who was in a creative crisis as the Muse left him – to be put on the stage in the shortest possible time. When the artist didn't expect return of his charisma, he met a beautiful noblewoman Viola de Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow). Thus the play was born – “Romeo and Juliet”, which showed the depth of love not high-colored and diluted with laughter. Their love was an incarnation of love and destiny of the tragedy’s characters. Their love did not triumph, as there was an abyss between them: the family, the debt, the destiny, because Viola was going to become lady Wessex. However, the woman was not gone for Shakespeare, as she became his heroine for all time, and her name was Viola.

Of course, the film is love, but it’s shown not as a passion, but as the inspiration, as Viola is the Muse for William Shakespeare. Thus, here we are to speak about talent, as it is something that can make any human action attractive, make a man not only laugh and be sad, but cry even if he considers himself a man with a stony heart.

While speaking about a man with a stony heart, I mean the queen (in the film) Elizabeth I, as even she has felt this talent to show a deep tragic love. Thus I've mentioned the queen not without reason, as she is like the iron lady in the performance of Judi Dench. And though she appeared in the film only four times, Dench confirmed a high skill of a splendid actress. And I think without further ADO it’s clear that Joseph Fiennes as well as Gwyneth Paltrow showed their best artistic qualities. Both of them got used to their roles, especially Paltrow, as her emotions, movements and grace pointed to the fact that she performed the role of a noblewoman with dignity. So, all I can say is that casting was fitting. At the same time I have to mention costumes (even trifles like always dirty with ink the playwright’s fingers) and high-quality decorations, as they reflected that time with dignity.

In addition, I’d like to add that this film cannot be compared with others, that reflect the life and creative activity of a great playwright William Shakespeare, as it carries its own originality and some missed moments. And though the film is only a fiction, there are some moments and characters which are based on real prototypes. It is a very emotional picture, and I watched it with real interest and pleasure.