Shakespeare In Love cover art

Shakespeare In Love Details

1998 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 28,058 members

The reign of Elizabeth I finds Will Shakespeare, a writer, broke and envious of a rival. Then, he meets with a woman who wants to be an actor and who disguises herself as a man... Read more

Starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Rupert Everett
Director John Madden
Genres Comedy, Romance

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Shakespeare In Love

The reign of Elizabeth I finds Will Shakespeare, a writer, broke and envious of a rival. Then, he meets with a woman who wants to be an actor and who disguises herself as a man...

Starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Rupert Everett, Ben Affleck, Judi Dench, Daniel Brocklebank, Colin Firth, Simon Callow, Jim Carter, Martin Clunes, Anthony Sher, Imelda Staunton, Estelle Harris, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Williams
Director John Madden
Studio UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK
Run time DVD: 1 hr 59 mins
Certificate Certificate 15
Collections 100 Rom-Coms
Genres Comedy, Romance
Language DVD: English
Dubbed German
Subtitles DVD: Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Hebrew, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish
Released DVD: 02 Feb 2004
Production year: 1998
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (3) of Shakespeare In Love

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  • 5 stars out of 5

    Taking the writing process behind Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet as its inspiration, John Madden's follow-up to Mrs Brown combines contemporary humour with a convincing 16th-century setting. Young Will (Joseph Fiennes) falls for the soon-to-be-married Viola (Gwyneth Paltrow) and casts her, disguised as a boy, as his Romeo. As their love affair unfolds, so does the play in a film that is passionate, intelligent and hysterically funny in turns. Fiennes and Paltrow are supported by an outstanding cast that includes Geoffrey Rush, Tom Wilkinson and Colin Firth, while Judi Dench delivers an Oscar-winning portrayal of Elizabeth I, making fine use of Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard's Oscar-winning script.

    • Radio Times
  • 3 stars out of 4

    If movies be the food of love, then there's an excess of it in this delightful romantic comedy, a clever romp that makes witty use of theatrical conventions and Shakespeare's own works; it is not only in love with love, but with the power of theatre.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful member's review of Shakespeare In Love

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  • 15 out of 17 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    Why?

    Infuriating romantic comedy in which every moment is drowned in a sea of schmaltz, particularly those between the lovers; the script is fairly good, witty even, but is ruined by honey-coated direction and poor performances.

    Why this arrogant, soppy sludge won so many Oscars remains beyond comprehension; it’s just a run-of-the-mill, saccharine rom-com. Don’t be drawn in by the word ‘Shakespeare’ in its title; it doesn’t make it any cleverer.

      • ATfilmcritic from London
  • Most recent members' review of Shakespeare In Love

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  • 6 out of 7 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    How good's your Elizabethan theatre?

    The great thing about this film is the number of levels it works on. Firstly it is a rich period piece, secondly a first rate comedy with real tragic elements (just like some of the Bard's best) and thirdly, if you know a bit about Elizabethan and Jacobean theatre it is extremely clever in drawing laughs out of literary references. Thus snatches of great Shakespearian drama litter the script, often beautifully played for comedy and thus you have a wonderful study of the ambivalent sexuality of Shakespeare that is both comedic and tragic. The supporting cast is superb as well. A film you will watch again and again.

      • A customer from London, UK
  • News and features

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    Olympics Through Time, The - The History Of The Olympic Games

    Dench upset about cuts for arts

    • 11 Dec 2009

    Dame Judi Dench is furious with the government officials for cutting funding for the arts to pay for the upcoming Olympic Games in London. Officials are busy erecting new buildings for the 2012 sporting extravaganza, but the veteran actress insists more money is needed to help struggling theatre companies and film projects. She says, "I am concerned, of course, that they've taken a lot of the subsidy to the arts away for the Olympics. There's no question that the recession has had an effect on Read more

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Rating breakdown

28,058 Member ratings
  • 100
2,713
  • 90
2,505
  • 80
5,281
  • 70
5,138
  • 60
5,122
  • 50
2,898
  • 40
1,820
  • 30
1,154
  • 20
925
  • 10
502

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    • Shakespeare In Love
      The reign of Elizabeth I finds Will Shakespeare, a writer, broke and envious of a rival. Then, he meets with a woman who wants to be an actor and who disguises herself as a man......