Shakespeare In Love (1998) Miramax Films/Universal Pictures 📢 Director: John Madden 💰 Producer: David Parfitt, Donna Gigliotti, Harvey Weinstein, Edward Zwick, Marc Norman 👫 Cast: Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Colin Firth, Ben Affleck, Judi Dench. 🏆 Awards ceremony: -71st Academy Awards: March 21, 1999. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, California. 🎭 Other films nominated for Best Picture this year: -Elizabeth. -Life Is Beautiful. -Saving Private Ryan. -The Thin Red Line. 📕 Plot summary: Will Shakespeare (JOSEPH FIENNES) writes the play of 'Romeo And Juliet'; casts Viola De Lesseps (GWYNETH PALTROW) as his Juliet, falls in love with her, kisses her a lot and impresses the Queen of England. And a bit of other stuff in-between. 💥 Standout scene(s): Getting a look at Gwyneth Paltrow's naked top half on repeat occasions. 🔑 Facts: -The 71st Academy Awards. -Nominated for 13 Academy Awards, it won 7: Best Picture, Actress (Gwyneth Paltrow), Supporting Actress (Judi Dench), Screenplay (original), Art Direction, Costume Design, Music. -Second Best Picture appearance for Colin Firth (The English Patient). Firth stars here with Geoffrey Rush, who he would be reunited with in THE KING'S SPEECH (2010). 🙂 Personal opinion: Utterly boring! The first 20 minutes of the film were completely devoid of any form of stimulation or interest. And when I thought things couldn't possibly go any further downhill we get the introduction of Ben Affleck, see Gwyneth Paltrow with a moustache and to top it all off Judi Dench dressed in a costume resembling a peacock. Talking of Judi Dench, she has three short scenes and ended up winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress? Another Oscar win was for the music! WHAT?? The music was so out of place with the film and just didn't fit. Joseph Fiennes has one of those faces you can't help wanting to punch, and yet spends every opportunity planting his lips on Gwyneth Paltrow. It got so tiresome and repetitive that it became predictable. Paltrow's topless scenes were excessive and unnecessary too. And what is it about the works of William Shakespeare that people are drawn to in the first place? It's all gibberish bollocks that makes me cringe. The things I liked: Geoffrey Rush, Colin Firth, Gwyneth Paltrow topless, and the costume designs. The things I disliked: everything else. This movie was like listening to fingernails scratching on a chalkboard. ABSOLUTELY SHIT. Did it deserve the Oscar? ❌NO. Are you kidding me? SAVING PRIVATE RYAN took a back seat to this bullshit? 2/10

Review date: 08 May 2025