Review: Shakespeare in Love (1999)

I never had any intention of watching this movie. Never. I had heard that it was not a true story to Shakespeare's life, so why would I bother watching it? Plus, I heard about some content issues with this movie (and, believe me, there are a lot). But, for my Introduction to Shakespeare class, we watched it (though I'm still puzzled why we watched it in the first place since it's not a true story), so I figured I'd review it for Elegance of Fashion, even for a simple warning than anything else. So, right off the bat, I want to say this is not a movie for families. There are a lot of mature scenes (some graphic). And, honestly, you're not missing much by choosing not to watch this movie. But, here we go on with the review...

Synopsis

DVD Box Art

Will Shakespeare is struggling with writer's block while trying to write a comedy called "Romeo and Ethel the Pirate's Daughter" for his struggling acting company. When he rewrites the play as a tragedy and calls it "Romeo and Juliet", he holds auditions for the part of Romeo and casts a boy named Thomas Kent for the role since he really understands the part of Romeo. However, Thomas turns out to be Viola De Lesseps, a young woman who is engaged to Lord Wessex through a business deal with her parents, but still wants to act in secret. Will meets Viola at a party one evening (not knowing that she is Thomas Kent) and falls in love with her, while she, in turn as Thomas, pretends to be her cousin to deliver messages back and forth from Will to herself. Soon, Will discovers Thomas Kent's true identity and the two fall in love.