Shakespeare in Love
UK (1998): Comedy/Romance/Drama
One of the most endearing 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. 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) to stage Will's latest comedy, Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter. Jokey comedy, though, soon takes a backseat to ravishing romance when the beautiful Viola De Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow) disguises herself as a young man to wangle herself an audition in the all-male cast, and wins both the part of Romeo and, after much misunderstanding, the playwright's heart. Soon enough, Will's pirate comedy becomes the beautiful, tragic Romeo and Juliet, reflecting the agony and ecstasy of Will and Viola's romance -- he's married and she's set to marry the slimy Lord Wessex (Colin Firth) in the near future.
Amazingly, screenwriters Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard haven't forgotten to entertain their audience in addition to riding a Shakespearean roller coaster, with director John Madden reigning in his huge ensemble with rollicking energy. Along the way there are small gems to be found, including Judi Dench's eight-minute, Oscar®-winning turn as a truly regal Queen Elizabeth, but 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, heartfelt Will, and as for 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. (Amazon.com)
13 nominations, 7 Awards
· Best Picture of the Year 1998: David Parfitt, Donna Gigliotti, Harvey Weinstein, Edward Zwick, Marc Norman - Producers (Miramax/Universal/Bedford Falls, Miramax)
· Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1998: Gwyneth Paltrow
· Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 1998: Dame Judi Dench
· Best Achievement in Writing - Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen 1998: Marc Norman & Tom Stoppard
· Best Achievement in Art Direction 1998: Martin Childs - Art Direction, Jill Quertier - Set Decoration
· Best Achievement in Costume Design 1998: Sandy Powell
· Best Achievement in Music (Original Musical or Comedy Score) 1998: Stephen Warbeck
· Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 1998: Geoffrey Rush
· Achievement in Directing 1998: John Madden
· Achievement in Cinematography 1998: Richard Greatrex
· Achievement in Film Editing 1998: David Gamble
· Achievement in Makeup 1998: Lisa Westcott & Veronica Brebner
· Achievement in Sound 1998: Robin O'Donoghue, Dominic Lester, Peter Glossop