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Shakespeare in Love Movie Review

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Actors: Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Judi Dench, Geoffrey Rush
Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Shakespeare in Love
The movie begins with a frustrated and aimless young William Shakespeare, an up and coming actor turned writer who has a terrible case of writers block. He has been contracted to write a new success, distracted and depressed he manages to convince his benefactors that his play is well on its way. In truth as he admits to good friend and fellow writer Christopher Marlowe, Romeo and Ethel the Pirates daughter has not even been started.

When auditions are held for his play he meets young boy Thomas Kent and is impressed by his immense talent. Through a twist of fate he meets Viola De Lesseps a young lady of nobility, it is love at first sight for Will. But Viola has in fact met William before, she is Thomas Kent. She continues the charade of Thomas Kent in order to fulfil her dream of acting and in turn spend time with Will. She also plays messenger between Viola and Will until she is overcome and kisses Will in her male disguise. A shocked Will is then told by the boatman that Thomas Kent and Viola are one and the same.

Then begins a sensual highly charged relationship between the two. They must keep their relationship hidden from everyone, Viola is to be married to an arrogant and aggressive man Lord Wessex and Will is simply a writer. It is a love story through the ages, a physical and spiritual attraction so intense that it delivers shakespeare's greatest work ever Romeo and Juliet.

--Yani, Resident Scholar

William Shakespeare is about to start his new play, "Romeo and Ethel the Pirante's Daughter", but he's stuck with writer's block. Holding auditions for the play, he meets Thomas Kent, an incredible actor, who is really a princess in disguise. He later falls in love with her, and lets her carry on in the play dispite women not being allowed to act. The princess is going to marry Lord Wessex, and Shakespeare has finally found his muse and starts writing his most famous love story, "Romeo and Juliet". This production is fantastic, and the entire cast is brilliant. Judi Dench steals the show, though, in a small role as the queen. The music is also incredible, and the costumes and fantastic.
--Estefan Ellison, Resident Scholar

This is a fictional story about a possible forbidden love of Shakespeare's. Joseph Fiennes plays the playwright while Gwyneth Paltrow is his rich lover desperate to be an actor in the days it was forbidden for a female to be on the stage.
--Megan Westley, Resident Scholar

"Shakespeare in Love" a romantic comedy staring; Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Judi Dench and Geoffrey Rush. Directed by John Madden. The movie follows the young playwrite, (any guess who?) William Shakespeare.

Shakespeare's inspiration seems to have dried up, leaving him with one very unfortunate case of writer's block. However, Shakespeare near accidentally runs into the stunning Lady Viola (Gwenneth Paltrow) and all at once, his inspiration returns, as the two become infatuated.

Although the movie isn't exactly true to history, it makes up for it through fine acting (including a brilliant performance by Dame Judi Dench in a refreshing role as the witty Queen Elizabeth I)

--Dom, Resident Scholar



It's not easy to win one Oscar, but “Shakespeare in Love” garnered seven! Easily it was
one of the year's best. Directed by John Madden and written by Tom Stoppard and Marc
Norman, the film is about William Shakespeare, a young, struggling actor/playwright. He
seems to have found an insurmountable roadblock to his success and is now literally
“stranded”! Alas, he meets the beautiful, scintillating and damned sexy Lady Viola
(Gwyneth Paltrow) and from this moment, the “action” really begins. The screenwriters
have literally laced the dialogue with incredibly clever allusions to the Bard's life and
writings, bringing to the screen a “real” Shakespeare (well, one version of the “real”
Shakespeare, as the filmmakers have easily and conveniently omitted any suspected aspects
of Shakepeare's life that might be contrary to their own version!). Dame Judi Dench
Oscared with her performance of the spicy, randy Queen Elizabeth I. The Brits seem
always to know how to produce a quality film just when we need one!







--Bill Hobbs, Resident Scholar



Analysis of Shakespeare in Love
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Plot
Time/era of movie: - middle ages
Romance/Love/Hugging Yes
Job/Profession/Poverty Story? Yes
Job: - writer
Lover is... - of a different social class

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - writer
Age: - 20's-30's
Eccentric: Yes
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
Hair color? - brunette (Black)
Hair type - (man) short/standard straight
Body type - (man) average
Unclothed? - Chest
Events of movie makes character more... - sensitive
Ethnicity/Nationality - British
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor? - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - average physique

Secondary Main Character
Identity: - Female
Hair color - blonde
Hair style - (woman) medium/shoulderlgn wavey
Body type - (woman) ample bosom & buttocks
Unclothed? - buttocks and chest
How much in movie? - 90%-100%
Ethnicity/Nationality - British

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - Prince/Nobleman/King
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - 40% - 60%
Hair color - brunette (Brown) - brunette (Black)
Hair type - (man) short/standard straight
Body type - (man) average
Ethnicity/Nationality - British
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - average physique

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK
Misc setting - fancy mansion - theater

Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment - moderately detailed references to deaths
Sex/nudity in movie? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only - kissing - touching of personal anatomy - seeing breasts - seeing full frontal--women - sex under blankets
Non-American film? Yes
What language? - English
Subtitles? - No
Any profanity? - None - Occasional swearing
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