When dutifully completing some assigned cybersecurity training this week, the video module referenced William Shakespeare…and then told us who Shakespeare was in case someone did not know. That got my mind focused on the bard (whose importance and biography I will NOT explain to you – you should know already). That focus dovetails with my romp down Best Picture history and intersects with Shakespeare in Love (1998, dir. John Madden).
Shakespeare in Love is a historical fiction story about William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) suffering from writer’s block in 16th century London. Shakespeare falls in love with Viola de Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow). While she feels the same for him, there is one major problem: she is betrothed to Lord Wessex (Colin Firth). In order to steal away, Viola assumes the identity of the male actor Thomas Kent (it was a crime at the time for women to appear on stage) and takes on the role of Romeo in Shakespeare’s new play – originally a comedy that transforms into Romeo and Juliet. Viola and Queen Elizabeth I (Dame Judi Dench) also concoct a wager between the Queen and Wessex about whether a play can capture the true nature of love. By the end, the play is produced, determined that the wager has been proven true, and the lovers are able to live out their passionate relationship on stage one last time – with Shakespeare as Romeo and Viola as Juliet this time.
The film has everything a person could want. There are wonderful performances throughout. Fiennes and Paltrow are superb, and the best of a nearly universally strong group of supporting performances comes from Geoffrey Rush as the beaten down theatrical producer Henslowe. It has romance – the steamy passion from Fiennes and Paltrow is palpable. I, for one, will never understand how Joseph Fiennes did not become a bigger star after his performances in this year both in this film and Elizabeth. It has a lighter overall tone, but it broaches some serious territory on occasion. And it is among the finest screenplays ever written – by theatrical legend Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman – as it sprinkles bits of Shakespearean dialogue throughout the film. Each serves as a delightful easter egg for those more familiar with Shakespeare. It is impossible to come away from this film without having enjoyed the experience.
The elephant in the Oscar room is, of course, that Shakespeare in Love came out the same year as Saving Private Ryan. Let me be clear – I believe both films are great. There is a large segment of the film journalism community that, in talking up Saving Private Ryan, they feel the need to put down Shakespeare in Love. I find that unnecessary and a touch elitist. I happen to agree that Saving Private Ryan is a better film (I have it 36th all time) and absolutely deserved the Best Picture Oscar that year. (Much of this result is attributed to the Harvey Weinstein publicity machine, which has a great deal of merit in hindsight.) However, a preference for one of the other is defensible in either case. Talk up Spielberg’s incredible film all you want - it absolutely deserves the praise - but leave it at that.
So, while I can confidently and uncontroversially say it was not the best film of the year, Shakespeare in Love was and is one of the best films of all time. Get thee to a filmery and take yourself on the ride if you have not seen it. Or take the ride again if it has been a while. It is such stuff as dreams are made on.
FUN FACT – Dench’s Best Supporting Actress win for portraying Queen Elizabeth I is unique in two ways. First, she won for her portrayal in the same year Cate Blanchett was nominated for the same character (Best Actress for Elizabeth – who lost to Paltrow). Additionally, this marked the first time two Oscar winners triumphed for characters who are parent and child in separate films (following Charles Laughton’s win for portraying Henry VIII in The Private Life of Henry VIII). It would soon happen again with Helen Mirren (Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen) and Colin Firth (King George VI in The King’s Speech).
Just Watch says that Shakespeare in Love is currently streaming on Max. It is also available for rent/purchase on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.
As a reminder, here is the original post that details the scores and weighting system.