SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE

"Witty, amusing and original, Shakespeare in Love is intelligent cinema with its superb cast, cleverly pitting today's situations against those in Shakespeare's day, skilfully crossing the bridge of time. Nothing seems to have changed much - lunch specials at the tavern, visits to psychics (today it’s shrinks). The sets are extravagant, costumes splendid, music score melodic with gorgeous cinematography displaying a handsome production. Gwyneth Paltrow is exquisite – she glows as Viola, delivering an endearing, striking performance, beautifully matched by Joseph Fiennes, whose intense sultry good looks make excellent leading man material. Paltrow and Fiennes are good together, allowing the central love theme to shine. Special mention of Geoffrey Rush, whose delightfully unrefined character displays great comic appeal. You don't have to be a Shakespeare savant to enjoy Shakespeare in Love. It's lighthearted, intelligent yet frivolous, full of wit and charm; something quite different from the slate of Hollywood offerings."
Louise Keller

"The play's the thing," Shakespeare once wrote, and indeed, the mastery of the written word is in evidence when one sees - and hears - this engaging and droll piece. Under the astute penmanship of Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman, combined with the visual fluidity of director John Madden, Shakespeare in Love is one of the movie surprises of the year. In its two-hour framework, the film has enveloped more detailed and developed themes, than most films released, and treats them all with intelligent coherence. Exploring such issues as duty, the role of women in society and the purity of the romantic spirit, the film may be set in Elizabethan England, but is still a contemporary one. Funny, sexy, romantic and gorgeous on the eye, Shakespeare in Love crackles with wit, intelligence and poetry. The film boasts an impressive cast, and each actor gives of their best. Paltrow seems at home playing English characters, and here delivers her finest performance to date. Her mastery of comedy is evident. She seems so right for Viola, and has an ear for dialect and a rhythm for the complexities of the language. She also looks exquisite, and matches that Shakespearian description: 'O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!" Joseph Fiennes (wasted in the recent Elizabeth), is superb here, delivering a charming performance, while Geoffrey Rush steals the film as the flustered theatre owner - he's hysterical. Tom Wilkinson and America's Ben Affleck also stand out. The film is also marvellous in the way it accurately sets about exploring the class divisions that operated in Elizabethan England. Masterfully directed by Madden (of Mrs Brown fame), Shakespeare in Love is rollicking entertainment on a grand scale."
Paul Fischer