The-Reel-McCoy -- Shakespeare In Love

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	Shakespeare In Love

	Rated: R
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Shakespeare In Love. The writers of this film basically took the idea suggested by the title and ran with it. Is it historically accurate? No. Does it take us back to the 1590's and let us experience life as it was in the era of Shakespeare? Probably not. But is it one of the best films of the year? Definitely.

This movie is entertaining on just about every level. The script (by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard) is wonderfully imaginative and refreshing. It centers around the idea that the play, "Romeo and Juliet", was written based on actual events in Shakespeare's life. It is very funny at times and is always full of energy. It is a perfect blend of passion, mystery, and comedy providing for purely rewarding entertainment.

The cast for this movie is one of the best assemblies of talent that I have seen in a long time. Joseph Fiennes (younger brother of The English Patient's Ralph) portrays Will Shakespeare as a reckless young man, driven by passion. His words flow from his quill only when inspired by a woman: his muse. Gwyneth Paltrow is Viola, an upper-class lady enthralled by Shakespeare's plays and determined to share in his poetry. She disguises herself as Thomas Kent, and auditions for a role in Shakespeare's next literary work, which is not coming as well as everyone hoped it would. Geoffrey Rush plays Henslowe, owner of one of the two playhouses of London. He provides much of the comedy as he furiously scrambles to assemble all of the pieces needed to bring the play to life. Everything always seems on the edge of disaster, and many wonder how it will ever work. Henslowe assures them each time that all is well. When asked how it could possibly work out, he delivers the running line, "I don't know. It's a mystery!" (Rush had the same running line in his critically-acclaimed performance of David Helfgott in Shine.) Also bringing life and humor to the film were Colin Firth as the Earl of Wessex who is determined to marry Viola for her money, Judi Dench as the wise and overbearing Queen Elizabeth I, Tom Wilkinson as the tough Fennyman who learns to appreciate the arts after being given a small part, and Ben Affleck (Paltrow's boyfriend) as the acclaimed stage actor, Ned Alleyn, who is wooed to star in Shakespeare's new play: Mercutio (later changed to Romeo and Juliet).

There is much in this movie to appreciate: the humor, the wit, the passion, the poetry, the irony, and the pure imaginative nature of it all. However, I was personally affected and connected to the film's characterization of Will Shakespeare. The passionate Shakespeare that Fiennes brings to the screen is very much like myself. Feelings of love are seemingly more important than life and death. Perhaps it is understandable only to myself, but I know what it is like to be inspired solely by a woman and her love. And I also know firsthand the emptiness and feeling of abandonment when everything is taken away by her unfaithfulness. Early in the film, Shakespeare in a high after completion of his masterpiece, discovers his love in the act of betrayal. His mood drops as his inspiration and life are sucked out of him, and what is left of him can only say, "I would have made you immortal." This line pierced my soul and cannot be forgotten. It was both inspiring and assuring to see him find love again, this time stronger and more true.

UPDATE! Upon further reflection, I decided to dock this movie one half star for the following reason. I disagree with Queen Elizabeth's statement in the movie when she said that this play has "finally shown the truth and very nature of love." I feel that this movie has done a great injustice to the word and meaning of love. What I have learned in life is that physical attraction and infatuation is all too often mistaken and misrepresented as love. Love has a much stronger and a much deeper meaning. Most importantly, love includes notions of sacrifice, forgiveness, and selflessness. Sadly, this truth is rarely seen in the movies, perhaps because it is all too often not seen in the personal and private lives of many of those in Hollywood.