SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE

"A tale of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy.
A fanciful tale of young Will Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes, Ralph's younger brother) who discovers his muse while struggling with his latest play, "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter," Madden's film is a tale of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy." movie review by Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

"Set amidst the grime and grandeur of Elizabethan England, "Shakespeare in Love" is an inspired re-imagining of history and a deft look at the relationship between art and life. Young Will Shakespeare ("Elizabeth's" Joseph Fiennes) is under commission from Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush, also of "Elizabeth") to write a comedy, "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter."
Fiennes and Paltrow make a pleasant, though not distinctive, pair. Surrounding them are some of Britain's finest character players, who happily prove the saying that there are no small parts, only small actors. Crowning them all, as the wily Elizabeth I, is Judi Dench ("Mrs. Brown"), calmly stealing every scene she's in. But the real star is the script. It wears its scholarship casually, almost disguising how well researched and structured it is, preferring instead to delight us with joyful witticisms and adroit plot twists." by L. J. Strom