Film Review 2

Shakespeare in Love (1998)

Cast:

·        Joseph Fiennes as William Shakespeare

·        Gwyneth Paltrow as Viola de Lesseps

·        Geoffrey Rush as Philip Henslowe

·        Colin Firth as Lord Wessex

·        Ben Affleck as Ned Alleyn

·        Judi Dench as Queen Elizabeth I

Synopsis: Shakespeare in Love is a 1998 British romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Madden, written by Marc Norman and playwright Tom Stoppard. The film depicts a love affair involving playwright William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) while he was writing the play Romeo and Juliet. The story is fiction, though several of the characters are based on real people. In addition, many of the characters, lines, and plot devices are references to Shakespeare's plays.

Review:

William Shakespeare wrote plays for Philip Henslowe. One day he had to see the man who was supposed to play Romeo. William was impressed by his talent. But finally it turned out that this was not a man, it was a woman. And they had a secret affair. Inspirited by her, he had a great success with his plays, however they couldn’t be together. He was married. The Queen, who enjoys Shakespeare's plays, agrees to witness the wager. Shakespeare decided to play  the lead role of Romeo, with a boy actor, playing Juliet. On that day Viola had a wedding, and after it she went to see the play. She played the role of Juliette instead oа this boy.  They were exposed. Viola and Shakespeare parted. William started to write Twelfth Night, Or What You Will.

As for the actor’s performances, as the film starts, the actor and playwright William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) is suffering from writer's block - he is unable to devise a story out of his new play, "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter." Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush), the owner of the prestigious theatre, the Rose, is threatened by slimy creditors into bringing in profits, and pleads for William to quickly deliver his play.

As for me I liked this movie because of the atmosphere and mood it leaves.  It was interesting to fell into the atmosphere of Shakespeare’s theatre. The story of William and Viola touched me very much.