Regrettably, however, SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE has several fatal moral flaws, one of which represents a politically correct attack on the cultural foundations of America’s English, and Christian, heritage, as represented by Shakespeare.
At first, this movie seems to trivialize and make light of the Bard in a hip, anachronistic style, but by showing his humble lifestyle and everyman characteristics, the audience comes to appreciate the genius he created out of the challenging conditions in which he worked.
Indeed, it is hard to imagine how Shakespeare could write about such passionate, witty and sometimes bawdy experiences without going through such things himself. SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE is a work of fiction, an examination of what-might-have-been that mixes factual characters with fictional characters, including the Lady Viola herself (though some critics do believe Shakespeare had a flesh-in-blood inspiration for his “dark lady” in his sonnets, and most critics believe that the inspiration was his wife to be). Furthermore, the Queen’s master of the revels, Sir Edmund Tilney (Simon Callow) has discovered Viola’s deception and closes the Rose Theater, hoping to stop the production of “Romeo and Juliet.” However, competing playhouse owner Burbage offers his Curtain Theater to Shakespeare, and the curtain goes up, with unlikely guests, some sudden cast changes, an unexpected crowd reaction, and unstoppable, unpleasant pressures on the forbidden romance. He will gain money, and Viola will gain class, through a classic marriage of convenience. Shakespeare discovers that Lady Viola must marry the insufferable Lord Wessex (Colin Firth) at the command of Queen Elizabeth (Judi Dench). As their love blooms, “Romeo and Juliet” begins to take shape and the rehearsal continues. As the guise falls away, their passion heats up. Shakespeare becomes instantly smitten with Viola and confesses his love for her to Kent. (No women were permitted to act on stage at the time.) Kent performs so well as Romeo that Shakespeare follows him home and discovers that Kent is “friends” with the Lady Viola. A ragtag group of actors arrives, including local favorite, the brash, arrogant Ned Alleyn (Ben Affleck), and a youth named Thomas Kent (Gwyneth Paltrow), a ravishingly beautiful young woman whose real name is Lady Viola and has dressed herself as an adolescent boy.
Nevertheless, Will, played by Joseph Finnes, brother of Ralph, whips up a few pages and rehearsal begins. Henslowe asks Fennyman for more time to pay off a debt, because his new playwright William Shakespeare is working on a big money-making show, a new comedy called “Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter.” Fennyman relents, but little does he know that Will needs a muse and is suffering a severe case of writer’s block. The story of this movie begins in 1593 with the owner of the playhouse, The Rose, Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush), literally having his feet held to a fire by moneylender Fennyman (Tom Wilkinson). Though it sheds some light on the possible lifestyle of the world famous English author, its basic premise has very immoral implications that slanders Shakespeare’s reputation, character and legacy.
Wonderfully acted, expertly directed and containing lavish costumes and set design, this movie positions itself as an Oscar contender. New, smart, bawdy, romantic, and funny, but morally degenerate, the period movie SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE details an imagined experience by the Old Bard himself, which inspires him to write his most famous piece. Have you heard this story before, two lovers separated by wealth, class, rank and duty steal moments of romance until they realize their future is doomed? No, I’m not talking about TITANIC, I’m talking about ROMEO AND JULIET, perhaps Shakespeare’s most famous play.