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Popcorn Reviews
With Cybèle: Shakespeare in Love
By Cybèle Elaine Werts
CybeleW@aol.com
First published
in the Shelburne News, Shelburne Vermont
Popcorn Kernel Rating (four possible):
2.5 Kernels for charm and a feisty female role for Gwenneth.
The thing is, I never really "got"
Shakespeare. Despite a high school class on it and endless
movies, all that odd-talkin’ just confuses me. But then, this
movie isn’t a Shakespeare play, it’s the story of
Shakespeare’s first love in his real life. So, while some of
the language has that mildly poetic meter, in general I was able
to follow what was happening. That is, that Shakespeare (Joseph
Fiennes) has lost his muse while working for a theatre owner who’s
pretty hard up for cash. He falls in love with Violet (Gwenneth
Paltrow) and gets it back. In the meantime she’s a pretty
feisty girl and is struggling against the usual tyranny of the
day in which she has to marry some lunkhead for political and
queenly reasons. All this activity has the kind of complex
plotting that is common in many of Shakespeare’s plays.
Considering that many of the players look alike thanks to a
preponderance of brown peasant clothing, it all gets a bit fuzzy
at times. Still, the film was mildly entertaining and ended with
some pretty touching scenes.
Suggested Gustatory Accompaniment: A big chunk
of sourdough bread and cheddar cheese.
Copyright 2000
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