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List Price: $29.99 | | Label: Walt Disney Video
Salesrank: 22832
Released: August 10, 1999 |
| Our Price: $14.15 |
| Used Price: $2.00 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
One of the most winning and intelligent romantic comedies of the '90s, Shakespeare in Love is filled with such good will, sunny romance, snappy one-liners, and devilish cleverness that it's absolutely irresistible. At the 1999 Academy Awards, this dark-horse costume comedy sneaked off with seven Oscars, besting the highly favored Saving Private Ryan for Best Picture. With tongue placed firmly in cheek, at its outset the film tracks young Will Shakespeare's overwrought battle with writer's block and the efforts of theater owner Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush, in rare form) to stage Will's latest comedy, Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter. Most of the jokes in the first one-third of the film are along these lines: Will's anachronistic therapist session, a mug inscribed "A Souvenir from Stratford-Upon-Avon," Henslowe's battles to pay off his debts, and the backstage high jinks of pre-production. However, once Will sets his eyes on the beautiful Viola De Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow), joking takes a backseat to ravishing romance. Well, almost--turns out Viola wants to break into the world of male-only theater, and disguises herself as a young man to wangle herself an audition. She wins the part of Romeo and, after much misunderstanding, the playwright's heart. Soon enough, Will's pirate comedy becomes a beautiful, tragic romance, and Ethel is shoved aside for a woman named Juliet. Will and Viola's romance, however, is equal parts comedy and tragedy--he's married, and she's betrothed to the slimy Lord Wessex (Colin Firth), and it doesn't take an English major to figure out that it's not all's well that ends well.
Like Shakespeare's work itself, the film is instantly accessible to everyone, from the raucous groundlings looking for low comedy to the aesthetes hankering for some intellectual bite behind their entertainment. The way that Oscar-winning screenwriters Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard enfold their story within the parameters of Romeo and Juliet (and even Twelfth Night) is nothing short of brilliant--it would take a Shakespearean scholar to dissect the innumerable parallels, oft-quoted lines, plot developments, and thematic borrowings. And most amazingly, Norman and Stoppard haven't forgotten to entertain their audience in addition to riding a Shakespearean roller coaster. Director John Madden (Mrs. Brown) reigns in his huge ensemble with a rollicking energy that keeps the film's momentum going at top speed for its entire two hours. Along the way there are small gems to be found: Ben Affleck's riotous egotistical actor, Imelda Staunton's nimble nurse, and of course Judi Dench's eight-minute, Oscar-winning turn as a truly regal Queen Elizabeth. However, the key element of Shakespeare in Love's success rests on the milky-white shoulders of its two stars. Fiennes, inexplicably overlooked at Oscar time, is a dashing Will as we might expect him at the early stage of his career, bundled full of comedy and tragedy but unsure of how to harness his talent. And as for Best Actress winner Paltrow... well, nothing she'd done before could have prepared viewers for how amazing she is here. Breathtakingly beautiful, fiercely intelligent, strong-willed, and lovestruck--it's a performance worthy of Shakespeare in more ways than one. By the film's end, you'll be thoroughly won over--and brushing up your Shakespeare with newfound ardor. --Mark Englehart
Shakespeare in Love Reviews:
Shakespeare in Love - DVD - 
2009-12-16 - About six months ago I saw part of this on television and fell in love with the movie. Joseph Fiennes is wonderful as Shakespeare! And Gwyneth Paltrow -- well, what else can I say?
The costuming is excellent, the props top-notch and the story line beautifully written.
I showed the last 20 minutes or so to my Freshmen English classes and they too enjoyed it. And anytime you can get ninth graders to appreciate the Bard, I'd say you have accomplished the mission. I rate this film 5 stars!
Wonderful film
2009-10-03 - Great script, great cast, great acting, and Gwyneth Paltrow too, what's not to like? The sets are realistic, (especially the Globe) and the idea that all female leads were played by males throws out any number of interesting layers of interpretation. As someone involved in the arts, I live with the idea that art can transform society. My only question: what happened to Voldemort's brother?
So good I had to buy it!
2009-08-19 - After watching this movie on regular tv with all the cuts, I realized it was one movie I would watch over and over - uncut! Great lines, great twist on Will Shakespeare, Judy Dench slays with 10 mins of screen time. Treat yourself to it!
Wife loves it 
2009-06-23 - Its a chick flick - your wife will love it but if your a guy ? might be a little to mushy for ya lol
Good, but not as great as the awards reflect
2009-05-18 - Wasn't as good as remembered it to be; it won seven (!) Oscars including Best Picture, but in retrospect I think that award should easily have gone to 'Saving Private Ryan'. This it still very likeable though.
