Shakespeare in Love

A very nice movie, and romantic comedies are not my cup of tea. The brilliant script, the beautiful Gwyneth Paltrow and the portrayal of the old English theatre make me give it at least 4 stars. (17.11.2007)

A perfect comedy that is sure to entertain even after several viewings. Gwyneth Paltrow and Geoffrey Rush are great, but above all the film doesn't pretend to be anything "big". It's just terribly enjoyable. (21.09.2002)

An excellent comedy, the quality of which was mainly due to the excellent script by Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman, who cleverly work with ambiguity in the life of the greatest playwright of all time. If you know a little about the background of Shakespeare's life (at least enough), you will enjoy some of the jokes and gags a lot more, and if you also know the principles of Elizabethan theatre, this is doubly true. However, if you are a starter in this field, you still have the opportunity to enjoy a nice love story that reached out to Romeo and Juliet for its inspiration and benefits from the power of this play in the final scenes. Had it not been for this, the ending might have felt terribly sugary, but in William’s days the so-called "Hollywood pathos" was fortunately unknown. It is also worth mentioning the acting performances of Paltrow and Fiennes, which are convincing in both the "theatre" and in the "film itself". And then, surprisingly, Ben Affleck's Ned Alleyn, whose performance as Mercutio (basically this character also moves into the character of Ned himself) is, in a word, famous. A pleasant spectacle with an informative touch. (06.03.2004)

Some reviews a very difficult to do. How can I rate a movie that I sat down to watch three times and managed to fall asleep all three times? Most likely with a Boo! rating, but this critically acclaimed romantic comedy certainly doesn't deserve that. As an apology to the filmmakers and to myself, I must add that I used the film as a backdrop for a romantic evening, and because I have a great partner, the esteemed screenwriter and director can try their best... However, this also means that Madden's film is not sufficiently attractive for me to attempt to watch it again. It lacked the appropriate momentum and the Shakespearean language was somewhat bothersome. Overall impression: 45%. (14.09.2009)

It took me a long time to come to terms with this view of Elizabethan theater, but so be it. The ethereal Gwyneth Paltrow is really lovely here, and one really does at least get some idea that there were other theaters than the Globe and other playwrights than Wilda. And maybe I'll finally get around to reading "Twelfth Night, or What You Will." (21.07.2017)

An unforgettable film that is not so much a comedy as a melancholic probe into the 16th century where literary history was written. Charming performances and a laid-back atmosphere. (06.03.2004)

If I want to praise this film (and I do), I have to start with the actors. The cast is so stellar and well-chosen that the director had it very easy in the end. Fiennes is excellent and does not stand in the shade of his brother, Rush is brilliant as always, Gwyneth Paltrow is beautiful and natural, and Judi Dench is amazing, and I could go on like this for a long time. But praise must also be given to Madden's direction, which lets the story flow beautifully, perfectly blurring the distinction between theatre and film. And then there's the excellent script refreshed with pleasant humour and beautiful dialogues, romantic atmosphere, costumes and typical English charm. If I were by nature a fan of Shakespearean literature and theatre, this film would have scored much higher than a "measly" 85%. (31.01.2013)