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Shakespeare in Love
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Synopsis
William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) is on a cold streak. Not only is he writing for Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush), owner of "The Rose," a theatre whose doors are about to be closed by sadistic creditors, but he's got a nasty case of writer's block. Shakespeare hasn't written a hit in years. In fact, he hasn't written much of anything recently. Thus, the Bard finds himself in quite a bind when Henslowe, desperate to stave off another round of hot-coals-to-feet application, stakes The Rose's solvency on Shakespeare's new comedy, "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter." The problem is, "Romeo" is safely "locked away" in Shakespeare's head, which is to say that not a word of it is written. Meanwhile, the lovely Lady Viola (Gwyneth Paltrow) is an ardent theatre-goer -- scandalous for a woman of her breeding -- who especially admires Shakespeare's plays and, not incidentally, Bill himself. Alas, she's about to be sold as property into a loveless marriage by her mercenary father and shipped off to a Virginia tobacco plantation. But not before dressing up as a young man and winning the part of Romeo in the embryonic play. Shakespeare soon discovers the deception and goes along with it, using the blossoming love affair to ignite his muse. As William and Viola's romance grows in intensity and spirals towards its inevitable culmination, so, too, does the farcical comedy about Romeo and pirates transform into the timeless tragedy that is Romeo and Juliet. ~ Merle Bertrand, All Movie Guide

Cast

Ben Affleck Ned Alleyn
Jim Carter Ralph Bashford
Martin Clunes Richard Burbage
Judi Dench Elizabeth I
Rupert Everett Christopher Marlowe
Colin Firth Lord Wessex
Gwyneth Paltrow Viola De Lesseps
Imelda Staunton Nurse
Tom Wilkinson Hugh Fennyman
Simon Callow Tilney, Master of the Revels
Geoffrey Rush Philip Henslowe
Joseph Fiennes William Shakespeare

Production Crew

Mark Raggett Art Director
Linda Bruce Associate Producer
Michelle Guish Casting
Richard Greatrex Cinematographer
Stephen Warbeck Composer (Music Score)
Sandy Powell Costume Designer
John Madden Director
David Gamble Editor
Bob Weinstein Executive Producer
Julie Goldstein Executive Producer
Deborah Saban First Assistant Director
Lisa Westcott Hair Styles
Lisa Westcott Makeup
David Parfitt Producer
Donna Gigliotti Producer
Edward Zwick Producer
Harvey Weinstein Producer
Marc Norman Producer
Martin Childs Production Designer
Marc Norman Screenwriter
Tom Stoppard Screenwriter
Jill Quertier Set Designer
Peter Glossop Sound/Sound Designer
Year: 1998
Runtime: 122
Country: UK
MPAA Rating: R
for sexuality
Category: Feature


Color type
Deluxe

Sound
Dolby Digital

Produced by
Bedford Falls Productions

Release
December 11, 1998 (USA)
by Miramax
Universal

Awards
1998 - Best Ensemble Acting - Screen Actors Guild
1998 - Best Picture - Academy
1998 - Best Picture - National Board of Review
1998 - Best Picture (Musical or Comedy) - Golden Globe
1998 - Best Picture - Academy
1998 - Best Picture - Academy
1998 - Best Picture - Academy
1998 - Best Picture - Musical or Comedy - Golden Globe
1998 - Best Picture - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie
1998 - Best Picture - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie
1998 - Best Picture - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie