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Shakespeare in Love [DVD] [1999] [Region 1]

1 disc
Region 1 USA/CA (info)

In this well-conceived Elizabethan comedy, writers Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman ask the question: Who was William Shakespeare's muse? The answer: Viola de Lesseps, a young noblewoman who dreams of acting on a man's stage. The screenwriters deliver a cleverly crafted scenario which beautifully illustrates both the early aspirations of the playwright, and a glimpse into the culture of Elizabethan theater. Colorful characters, like the Globe theater owner Henslow (played by Geoffrey Rush), the lead player in the troupe (Ben Affleck), and the Queen herself (Judi Dench), give the cast charm, wit, and feasibility. The young playwright who at the start of the film is experiencing writer's block bursts forth with a lyrical text inspired by the lovely and passionate Viola. Ultimately this film is about the making of a great play, but most importantly it is about the power of words.
Academy Awards Best Picture 1998
Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress 1999 Judi Dench Oscar-winning British actress, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE
Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress 1998 Judi Dench Oscar-winning British actress, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE
Academy Awards Best Actress 1998 Gwyneth Paltrow Oscar Winning Actress, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE
Academy Awards Best Original Screenplay 1998 Tom Stoppard Playwright/screenwriter
Academy Awards Best Adapted or Musical Song/Score 1998 Stephen Warbeck Composer
Academy Awards Best Original Screenplay 1998 Marc Norman Screenwriter, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE
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Credits

Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Ben Affleck, Judi Dench, Judi Dench, Colin Firth, Simon Callow, Jim Carter, Martin Clunes, Antony Sher, Imelda Staunton, Tom Wilkinson, Mark Williams
Critic Reviews

"...Style and subject are ideally matched....[Rush] is increasingly superb..."
Sight and Sound
"...A romance of exuberant theatricality and wit....Infused with the lifeblood of Shakespeare's passion..." -- Rating: A
Entertainment Weekly
"...An inspired re-imagining of history and deft look at the relationship between art and life..."
Box Office
"You can't miss with a movie that speaks the language of love with such hot-blooded delight....[SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE] spins delicious magic..."
Rolling Stone
"...One of the year's smartest and funniest comedies..." -- 3 1/2 out of 4 stars
USA Today
"...It soars freely into the realm of invention, wittily weaving Shakespearean language and emotion into an intoxicatingly glamorous romance..."
New York Times
"...Smoothly executed....[Fiennes] has the burning eyes and brooding demeanor appropriate for a lover, and he and Paltrow, flourishing once again under a British accent and doing her best work since EMMA, have a winning chemistry..."
Los Angeles Times