The 4-1-1: Stars: Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, and Judi Dench; Director: John Madden; Rating: R; Total running time: 123 minutes.The Preface: I've heard it said by more than one person that the fact that this film won the 1999 Academy Award for Best Picture is testament to the fact that 1999 was a weak year for movies all around. My response: "Bullshit." I thought this movie was unique, well-written, clever, and beautifully shot.
The Trailers: Unknown
The Film: The film begins by finding a young, upstart William Shakespeare (Fiennes) dealing with a bout of writer's block. He attempts to write a play he's titled, "Romeo and Ethel the Pirate's Daughter" but can't get much done. He soon discovers he needs a muse. Enter Viola De Lesseps (Paltrow), the beautiful daughter of an aristocrat, who also happens to love the theater and soon becomes betrothed to Lord Wessex (Firth) against her will.
As the story unfolds, Will and Viola become "star-crossed" lovers - although they know their love is forbidden. Anyone who is familiar with the story of Romeo and Juliet will see the obvious parallel and should appreciate how well it is done.
As the movie tells the story of Will and Viola, clever allusions to many other Shakespeare plays and historical figures of the time (John Webster, Ned Alleyn, Queen Elizabeth, and Christoper Marlowe) are interwoven throughout the film. This also includes the very real feud between the two owners of the local playhouses: The Rose and The Curtain.
As the story unfolds, Will and Viola become "star-crossed" lovers - although they know their love is forbidden. Anyone who is familiar with the story of Romeo and Juliet will see the obvious parallel and should appreciate how well it is done.
As the movie tells the story of Will and Viola, clever allusions to many other Shakespeare plays and historical figures of the time (John Webster, Ned Alleyn, Queen Elizabeth, and Christoper Marlowe) are interwoven throughout the film. This also includes the very real feud between the two owners of the local playhouses: The Rose and The Curtain.
Any movie review of this film would not be complete without a mention of Ben Affleck's portrayal of Ned Alleyn. Clearly, Affleck is out of his league in a film with Fiennes and Dench and even Paltrow's (to say that an actor isn't even in Gwenyth Paltrow's league is really, really sad) for that fact. Seriously - this guy has about as much acting range as a Daisy Air-Rifle. Nevertheless, he manages to pull off the role that was intended for comic relief. I suppose there is some ironic comedy in the fact that his character is supposed to be the greatest stage actor of the day. But I digress...
The movie incorporates the spirit of Shakespeare by using one of his most favorite plot devices; mistaken identity. Also - the movie is a comedy, a tragedy, and a sonnett - all at the same time.
As the movie wrapped up, I genuinely cared about the characters and ached for a different ending, even as I knew that the ending was perfect.
So again - to those who say this was a film that only won Oscar glory because it was a bad year all around for movies, I change my retort to "the lady doth protest too much, methinks."
The movie incorporates the spirit of Shakespeare by using one of his most favorite plot devices; mistaken identity. Also - the movie is a comedy, a tragedy, and a sonnett - all at the same time.
As the movie wrapped up, I genuinely cared about the characters and ached for a different ending, even as I knew that the ending was perfect.
So again - to those who say this was a film that only won Oscar glory because it was a bad year all around for movies, I change my retort to "the lady doth protest too much, methinks."
Rating: 8.0 out of 10.
IMDB page: Shakespeare in Love
