In goatee and boy’s wig as Thomas, she cuts an equally appealing figure.Īnd Fiennes gives brother Ralph a run for his money. Paltrow, who demonstrated her capacity for period British roles in “Emma,” has a luminosity that makes Viola irresistible. None of this would be possible - let alone credible - were it not for the impassioned acting of Paltrow and Fiennes. As the guise falls away, their passion heats up. The confusion over sexual identity is expertly played out, and, in a hilarious yet touching scene that echoes “Twelfth Night’s” reverse-gender dynamics, Will confesses to Thomas his love for the youth’s friend Viola. Later she presents herself as Viola, and he is smitten. Disguised as the youth Thomas Kent and acting to perfection, she catches Will’s eye and wins the part of Romeo. When Shakespeare promises to write a new play, both impresarios vie to mount it, and casting sessions begin, during which, the law decrees, only men may audition.īut Viola, a keen fan of drama and of Shakespeare in particular, is determined to try out for the new play. Meanwhile, despite theater’s growing popularity, the plague forces the closure of many houses, including the Rose, owned by Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush) and the Curtain, run by Richard Burbage (Martin Clunes). Faustus”), Shakespeare is striving to find his own creative niche. Notoriously competitive with the then better-known Marlowe (“Dr. Set against the backdrop of London in 1593, pic presents a theatrical community in which Shakespeare is but one of several successful playwrights - including Christoher Marlowe, Thomas Kyd, Robert Greene and George Peele. When he falls for the lovely Viola De Lesseps ( Gwyneth Paltrow), his passion is released, and his ineptly-titled “Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate’s Daughter” becomes “Romeo and Juliet.”īut in true Shakespearean fashion, their romance is hampered by various complications: Viola is betrothed to another, the insufferable Lord Wessex (Colin Firth), and that union has been sanctioned by Queen Elizabeth (Judi Dench). While the film’s storyline is labyrinthine, its premise is fairly simple: William Shakespeare ( Joseph Fiennes) has writer’s block and needs a muse to unlock his creative abilities.
![geoffrey rush shakespeare in love geoffrey rush shakespeare in love](https://cdn.britannica.com/08/147808-050-A366AEA3/Geoffrey-Rush-2010.jpg)
Nevertheless, it helps considerably to know Shakespeare to appreciate this film, a prerequisite that may limit its success.
#GEOFFREY RUSH SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE HOW TO#
Exquisitely acted, tightly directed and impressively assembled, this lively period piece is the kind of arty gem with potentially broad appeal that Miramax certainly knows how to sell. With “ Shakespeare in Love,” director John Madden does for adults what Baz Luhrmann did for teens in “Romeo and Juliet” - he makes Shakespeare accessible, entertaining and fun for modern audiences.