Storyline
Young Shakespeare is forced to stage his latest comedy, "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter," before it's even written. When a lovely noblewoman auditions for a role, they fall into forbidden love -- and his play finds a new life (and title). As their relationship progresses, Shakespeare's comedy soon transforms into tragedy.
Directors
Cast
Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McMullan, Tom Wilkinson, Geoffrey Rush, Ben Affleck, Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, Rupert Everett, Roger Frost, Jim Carter, Judi Dench, Mark Williams, Georgie Glen, Imelda Staunton, Joseph Fiennes, Barnaby Kay, Daniel Brocklebank, Simon Callow, Alan Cody, Antony Sher, Rupert Farley, Gregor Truter, Simon Day, Rebecca Charles, Nicholas Le Prevost, Martin Clunes, Paul Bigley, Roger Morlidge, Jill Baker, Bridget McConnell, Steven Beard, Joe Roberts, Nicholas Boulton, Bob Barrett, Sandra Reinton, Jason Round, Adam Barker, Harry Gostelow, David Curtiz, Amber Glossop, Robin Davies, Hywel Simons, Mark Saban, Timothy Kightley, Rachel Clarke, Lucy Speed, John Ramm
Trailer
Reviews
100
Chicago Sun-Times
I was carried along by the wit, the energy and a surprising sweetness.
100
The New Republic
With most historical films the informed viewer scrutinizes in order to cluck at errors. (There are books full of such cluckings.) With Shakespeare in Love, the more one knows, the more one can enjoy the liberties taken. [Jan. 4, 1999]
100
Entertainment Weekly
The richest and most satisfying romantic movie of the year. It's really about two great loves at once -- the love of life and of art -- and the way that Shakespeare, like no writer before him, transformed the one into the other.
90
Variety
Exquisitely acted, tightly directed and impressively assembled.
90
Chicago Reader
It's easy to suspend disbelief and embrace this historically creative fiction, whose clever relationship to what's known and what's unresolved is part of what makes it so intriguing and so romantic.
