Shakespeare in Love

Shakespeare in Love
1998
Directed by John Madden.
Written by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard.
Starring: Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Geoffrey Rush, Judi Dench, etc.
Rated: R (For brief nudity, sexuality, some language)



I randomly watched this one night this Summer, and instantly adored it. I've always been a practical person, and a guarded person, almost too much so. As a high school freshman, reading Romeo and Juliet for class, I grew frustrated at how dumb Juliet was and how Romeo couldn't possibly love her, as he had been in love with Rosaline only a day before.
Although West Side Story is one of my favorite movies, I always found most adaptations of Romeo and Juliet to be insincere.
This version, however, made me fall in love with Shakespeare's play again.

Shakespeare in Love tells the story of young Shakespeare, struggling to pen a new play, out of inspiration, and miles away from his wife (who seems to have practically kicked him out).
Shakespeare soon finds his inspiration in Viola, who is betrothed and off-limits. His new play, Romeo and Ethel: the Pirate's Daughter, is soon well on it's way, despite the debt, complications at the play house, the heartbreak of star-crossed lovers, and the difficulty of finding a good title.

This is one of few movies where I can actually say "I laughed, I cried...". The writing is extremely witty (example, Mr. Fennyman: The show must...you know../Shakespeare: Well, go on...") and the love between Shakespeare and Viola feels genuine.

One main moral issue that is often raised with this movie is the fact that Shakespeare is having an affair. However, without Shakespeare having an affair, there would be no movie, as they would have to cancel out the actual historical facts of Shakespeare's marriage to Anne Hathaway. And then the romance wouldn't be off limits, would possibly actually work out, and there goes the inspiration for Romeo and Juliet.

All in all, Shakespeare in Love is my favorite version of Romeo and Juliet, except for perhaps the play itself. It renewed my adoration for Shakespeare's hit, and the real, but inexplicable passion between Romeo and Juliet.