Oscar upset aside, Shakespeare In Love is not empty awards bait

The solipsism of the Bard’s lust for someone who lusts over his art is redeemed by Viola’s own skill at performing it, which feels true to the collaborative nature of theater. Stoppard and director John Madden understand, too, that these theatrical collaborations can walk a line between absurdity and transcendence. The two throw in reversals, complications, and plenty of big egos, including a very funny Ben Affleck as the gregarious and impatient leader of an acting troupe that graces the production with its presence.

Affleck appears as part of an unofficial Miramax repertory company, along with Weinstein-favored actors like Paltrow, Colin Firth, Judi Dench, and Tom Wilkinson—all creating a sense of theatrical camaraderie. But Shakespeare In Love, while less visceral than something like Saving Private Ryan, is more cinematic than many direct theater adaptations: Madden’s camera zips through the English streets with great momentum. His film is paced like a romantic comedy, but its moments of farce and shtick give way to dramatic heft. (To that end, the movie acknowledges the way Romeo And Juliet resembles one of Shakespeare’s comedies for many of its pages.) The final scenes between Fiennes and Paltrow offer a touching meditation on how relationships can echo through the ages in the art they inspired.

Availability: Shakespeare In Love is available on Blu-ray and DVD, to rent or purchase through the major digital services, and to stream on Netflix.