From a man that dares to hate (or at the least not look lovingly upon) Shakespeare’s work LOVES “SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE”. I have no reason to doubt him either. Let me tell you this, MIRAMAX believes in this film something fiercely, of course they did turn down GODS & MONSTERS, so they ain’t perfect. This flick is one I’m dying to see. Though knowing Austin, it’ll probably be sold out for the next god dang millenia, I still haven’t been able to get into a showing of LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, and I’m dying to see the thing. Sigh...
Harry, before I caught STAR TREK INSURRECTION the other night, I attended a screening of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE (it pays to live in LA, man) and I will tell you it is terrific. First, I have to say I am not a big fan of the Bard (force-fed his works in my high school years in West Texas just turned me off - way off). But this film is a real kick. Funny, playful, witty - co-written by Tom Stoppard (who knows his stuff) - and exquisitely acted and directed.
The whole cast is super, from Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes on down to Judi Dench in a mesmerizing turn as Elizabeth. The movie is a fabricated (as far as I know) "what if" story about Shakespeare figuring out how to write "Romeo and Juliet" based on his own love tribulations at the same time. What makes this movie great is that it treats Shakespeare as a man, not as a God.
For instance, Shakespeare overhears someone in the street say something clever (something recognizable I won't spoil it here) and you can see him take it in for future reference - JUST LIKE REAL WRITERS HAVE ALWAYS DONE, me included. He gets help on some screenplays, gets inspiration from real life, has to meet deadlines, etc. Honestly, if old Billy had been presented to me this way twenty-five years ago, I'd know all his plays by heart by now!
So for folks (like me) who don't like Shakespeare - or more accurately, have no feel for his works), I think it's a great introduction. Purists may quibble with the fictionalizing of Shakespeare's life, but to me it seemed perfectly in line with the "what if" scenario in AMADEUS - another terrific film. And I saw it with two friends who do know Shakespeare and they love it. So there you have it: one guy who doesn't like Shakespeare, and two women who do, and we gave it three hearty thumbs up!
-Mike Medlock
