THE AISLE SEAT - "SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE"
by Mike McGranaghan
I remember taking a full semester of Shakespeare in college. I'd always had an aversion to the Bard, simply because I didn't understand the language. By the end of the course, though, I had gained an appreciation for his storytelling style and character development. It wasn't an easy semester, and, oh, how I would have cherished the fun of Shakespeare in Love. Although not based on a Shakespeare story, the film is nonetheless a fictional story about him. It's funny, sexy, and very accessible, capturing the kind of passion that must have gone into writing so many classic works.
Joseph Fiennes plays the Bard who, as the film begins, is working on his latest play entitled "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter." The play has been commissioned by Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush), the owner of a struggling theatre called The Rose. He believes a new play by Shakespeare will bring him enough money to pay off his debts. In order to begin writing, Shakespeare needs to find his "muse" - a woman whose beauty will inspire him. He meets one in the form of Lady Viola (Gwyneth Paltrow), an aspiring actress frustrated by the fact that women are not allowed to perform on stage. She and the playwright start a flirtation; after she finds out about his play, she disguises herself as a man and auditions for the male lead. Viola is a natural, but her deception creates all kinds of complications. Also in the cast of the play is a narcissistic thespian named Ned Alleyn (Ben Affleck) who assumes he will get all the good lines. Meanwhile, in another subplot, Queen Elizabeth (Judi Dench) announces her desire to find a play that fully captures the essence of love.
Needless to say, there is a lot going on in Shakespeare in Love. Yet somehow the movie pulls all its individual parts together into a meaningful whole. Even more impressive is that it manages to balance several different tones. For instance, sometimes the movie goes for comedy, with farcical backstage elements and witty Shakespearean jokes (such as the title of the play). Other times, it becomes a breathtaking romance with erotic overtones. There are a couple very sensual love scenes and a romantic spirit that would make the film's namesake proud. Also, the ending is a perfect bit of Shakespearean drama, acutely set to a backdrop of the newly-titled "Romeo and Juliet."
The all-star cast really invigorates the story. What makes the casting interesting is that all the actors have a contemporary presence that makes the film seem modern, despite its historical setting. (I don't mean that the balance seems off; I just think the film seems relevant in a current way.) For example, Affleck, playing the vein actor, seems right at home in Elizabethan times, yet he could just as easily be playing a spoiled actor in a film set in the present day. Same thing with Joseph Fiennes. He is playing one of the most prominent literary figures in all of history, yet there's none of that dry "Masterpiece Theatre" kind of acting. There's a lot of spunk and vigor in his performance. I think the casting is a key component to the film's success.
Which brings me to Gwyneth Paltrow (who also has that paradoxical quality of seeming historical and modern at the same time). Paltrow is absolutely luminous in this film. I thought she was robbed of an Oscar nomination for her fine work in Emma; this time, obviously the Academy was paying closer attention. Her performance works for so many reasons. First, she's a terrific actress, capable of bringing a wide range of emotions to Lady Viola. Second, she's incredibly sexy. This is not just the musing of an infatuated movie critic, mind you. For the story to work, you absolutely have to believe that Shakespeare would find inspiration in this woman. Paltrow makes you believe. Third, she is adept at both drama and comedy so she handles the film's subtle shifts well.
Period pieces are generally my least favorite kind of film. When done the wrong way, they are stuffy and dull. So I guess what I treasured most about Shakespeare in Love was that it was so vibrant. This is a movie that made me laugh, made me get caught up in Shakespeare's passion for writing. It also enchanted me with its love story, which is original and meaningful. The message is obviously that artists need passion to create their best works. When they find it, a work of art emerges that can enthrall people forever. For William Shakespeare to have created so many great works can only mean that he must have had a wonderful source of inspiration in his life. The film gives you an idea of what that might have been.
The screenplay was written my Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, and the director is John Madden (Mrs. Brown). They deserve credit for daring to do something a little different. The idea of writers needing a muse is true. As a critic, great movies are my muse. Shakespeare in Love is one of those great movies, the kind of film that makes me clack away furiously at my keyboard, telling people just how much I loved this movie.
(
out of four)
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