My friends, let’s go back to a simpler time, when Joseph Fiennes wasn’t making headlines for playing Michael Jackson and Gwyneth Paltrow was best known for her performance persona, not her product on Goop. I'm talking about 1998, the year the two aforementioned actors starred opposite each other in a delightful little comedy, Shakespeare in Love . For those unfamiliar, the Oscar-winning film tells the story of a fictional version of William Shakespeare (Fiennes) who falls in love with Viola (Paltrow), a young woman who A desire to be on stage at a time when women were prohibited from performing on stage. So she pretends to be a man, and through the usual comic misunderstandings and adventures, she and Shakespeare fall in love - but things turn tragic when it's discovered that Viola must marry a wealthy lord and set sail for America. This is one of the most memorable movies of the 90s and one that I can watch over and over again.
The film, centered on Shakespeare's most popular work Romeo and Juliet and inspired by Viola, was a huge success and beat the long-awaited Saving Private Ryan to win the Oscar Film Award. As a result, many like to deride Shakespeare in Love as an undeserving winner or the product of a conspiratorial awards campaign. But I believe this is a truly great film that should be enjoyed by everyone. If you like goofy love stories, goofy comedy, great writing, and gorgeous costumes, this is the movie for you. Like the Shakespeare sonnets you've heard recited over and over again, I will never tire of Shakespeare's love . Here’s why.
1. It makes Shakespeare approachable
For many young people who read Shakespeare in school. Language can be difficult to master. But the writer's plays are meant to be seen, not read, so it's always helpful when a student of Shakespeare can see the action of his lines. The emotion, rhythm, and mannerisms of the actors make difficult words easier to understand, and by using much of Shakespeare's actual text, "Shakespeare in Love" accomplishes the same thing.
2. It involves some interesting gender politics
As Viola attempts to explore the world of men, she not only experiences the way men think, talk, and treat each other, but also their experiences with women. Through this incident, Viola realizes how ridiculous the expectations placed on her simply because she is a woman are. She transforms herself into a man because of her desire for action, but in the process she learns about gender inequality.
3. It stars one of the most powerful women in history
Queen Elizabeth I was not only one of the most powerful monarchs in world history, but she also endured illegitimacy, family strife, religious strife, war, and opposition from her motherland on her way to power. However, as soon as Elizabeth ascended the throne, she was keen on cultivating the arts, which led to the flourishing of playwrights such as Shakespeare.
4. The woman who plays her is equally amazing
Ask anyone and they'll tell you Dame Judi Dench's portrayal of Queen Elizabeth is simply fantastic. Fun fact: Dench only played Elizabeth on screen for about six minutes, but went on to win a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. This is the second shortest performance in history to win the award.
5. It shows off Ben Affleck’s charming side
Although Affleck is a controversial figure now, 1998 was his glamorous heyday. Playing the Elizabethan actor Edward "Ned" Alleyn allowed him to be wild, demanding to know from the first moment he burst through the theater doors "What is the play and what is my part?" , it’s easy to fall in love. with him. Ned's friendship with Will and his passion make this historical figure very compelling.
6. The other supporting characters are equally great.
Indeed, there are no bad performances in this film. From Geoffrey Rush's eccentric theater owner, to Colin Firth's cunning Lord Wessex, to Rupert Evert's Christopher Marlowe, the film's cast of characters Everyone is at their best. It is through these supporting characters that the comedy of the film is highlighted. While Will and Viola kept the audience mesmerized by their performances, the rest of the cast made us laugh.
7. It contains witty Shakespearean references
In the first scene, we see Shakespeare crumple up balls of paper and throw them around the room before landing them near props that represent or reference his other works. The first one falls next to the skull, a reference to Hamlet, and the second one falls inside a chest, a reference to The Merchant of Venice . At the audition, the actors recited the lines "Is this the face that launched a thousand ships?" from Christopher Marlowe's "Doctor Faustus." Marlowe was one of Shakespeare's contemporary rivals, so it was quite entertaining for actors to recite his lines when auditioning for Shakespeare. The entire ending of the film is a strong tribute to "Twelfth Night" .
8. Viola was ahead of her time
Although her status and era limited her rights and freedoms, Viola was undoubtedly a free-thinking woman. She longs to be on stage, appreciate poetry, and longs for true love in an era when marriage has become a money-transfer contract. She is an independent woman who is well suited to modern society.
9. Very romantic
Of course, any movie that features Shakespeare's sonnets, lines from Romeo and Juliet , and forbidden romance is going to be romantic. But Paltrow and Fiennes have some serious chemistry here. From their initial meeting, to their own balcony scene, to their tear-filled parting, the romance between Will and Viola is timeless.
Don't you want to watch this movie again now?
Image: The Weinstein Company, Giphy
