Shakespeare In Love (1998)

Raising many eyebrows when it won the Oscar for Best Picture, John Madden’s film depicts a fictional account of William Shakespeare’s love affair with Gwyneth Paltrow’s Viola, which plays a major part in the writing of Romeo & Juliet. Madden’s back catalogue also includes The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) [and its sequel] which I loved, and you can see the whimsical comedy coursing through Shakespeare In Love as well. The problem is that although (mostly) the acting is very good (Joseph Fiennes and Geoffrey Rush are particular highlights) the core narrative is really unengaging. I didn’t care one iota about Shakespeare’s relationship with Viola, and was much more interested in everything that Fiennes’ character was doing outside of his relationship with Viola. Which is obviously a problem when you’re watching a film entitled Shakespeare In Love. The London that’s created is a joy to be in, and the lives that the characters are living are thoroughly involving but there’s a gaping chasm that removes you from all of that, and sadly it’s the crux of the film. I’m not sure how Gwyenth Paltrow snagged Best Actress over Cate Blanchett for Elizabeth (a much better film) but what is amusing in that regard, is that the best thing about Shakespeare In Love is Judi Dench’s highly amusing take on Elizabeth I. Another question to ask the Oscars is how this managed to beat both Saving Private Ryan and American History X (which wasn’t even nominated) to the top prize. There are plenty that will get much more out of this than I did, but overall, I left disappointed. 5.3/10