Shakespeare in Love
Shakespeare in Love poses an interesting
questionwhat inspired William Shakespeare to write Romeo and
Juliet, the greatest love story of all time? The film speculates
that Shakespeare, miles from home (and from his wife) is smitten
by a wealthy, free-spirited young woman, who is betrothed to
a snobby lord. William and his love embark upon a secret (though
doomed) affair, from which the playwright draws inspiration (in
between accepting plot suggestions from friends and colleagues)
for the play.
Of course the truth is rather less exciting. Romeo and Juliet
was not inspired by Shakespeare's adulterous bed-hopping, but
based on a 1562 poem "The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and
Juliet" by Arthur Brooke (which itself was based on an old
Italian folk tale). Nevertheless, Shakespeare in Love, for all
its liberties with fact, is a thoroughly enjoyable romp. Not
since Amadeus has a historic film managed to flaunt the preposterous
with such buoyant and appealing bravura.
In the role of Shakespeare, Joseph Fiennes is aptly cast, looking
the very image of the Chandos portrait of the playwright (albeit
with more hair). Whether William Shakespeare was as dashing and
virile as Fiennes plays him will never be known, but Fiennes
makes one want very much to believe he was.
Cast opposite Fiennes, as Shakespeare's love, is Gwyneth Paltrow.
Paltrow makes an effort, but she is ultimately too delicate to
be convincing as so feisty a character. Fiennes and Paltrow also
have negligible chemistry together. Their love scenes, while
nicely lit and choreographed, are passionless. The performance
which most stands out however, is that of Dame Judi Dench as
Queen Elizabeth. Such is Dench's convincing immersion into the
role, that one soon forgets there is even an actor on-screen.
Dench is understated, yet convincingly portrays the fiery monarch
with hard-nosed realism, and her scenes are unquestionably the
best in the film.
Some of the screenplay's in-jokes and esoteric references are
a tad contrived, as if to create an "elite" level to
the film which only the initiated can appreciate. Ironically,
these touches only make the film more predictable (for example,
it becomes obvious early on that Twelfth Night is going to figure
somehow into the finale). Where the film is far more effectiveand
humorousis when it deals with the actual production of the play.
The copious difficultiesfinancial, artistic and interpersonalprovide
the film's best moments and are a sobering reminder of just how
little mounting a theatrical production has changed to this day.
By no means a classic, Shakespeare in Love is nevertheless a
grandly entertaining costume piece, and an affectionate tribute
to William Shakespeare and his work.
Paul Andrew MacLean
Shelton CT 06484 USA
(800) 232-2224 voice
(800) 775-2729 fax
LadyJanet@RenaissanceMagazine.com