MovieChat Forums > Shakespeare in Love (1999) Discussion > Okay, so this might be an unpopular opin...

Okay, so this might be an unpopular opinion.

posted 9 years ago by SenoritaTorres
9 replies | jump to latest

I just watched it again for about the 30th time, but this time I was paying particular attention to Gwyneth's performance, and (deep breath) I think she deserved the Oscar.

Cate Blanchett was stunning in Elizabeth, but let's remember that Gwyneth was essentially playing FOUR different roles here. Viola De Lessops, Viola as Thomas Kent, Thomas Kent as Romeo Montague and then Viola as Juliet Capulet, and all four of them were mesmerising.

She was absolutely charming in this film, it is obviously one of her best, if not best, film performances of hers and the Academy clearly agreed.

[–] nancyozz-563-177107 9 years ago

You are not alone in your opinion. I agree with every word you wrote. Her performance was simply flawless....and looked effortless....which it clearly wasn't. She deserved the Oscar

[–] conway3000 9 years ago

Paltrow deserved her Oscar. It was a fabulous performance.

[–] shadaif 9 years ago

It's definitely her best performance. If you'd compare to other winners though it's not as strong.

The end of the shoelace is called the...

[–] aurorak 9 years ago

I agree with you. I loved this movie and thought she was fantastic.

[–] happyphantom9 8 years ago

I didn't know it was an unpopular opinion. I don't like Gwyneth but she absolutely deserved her Oscar for this film. She's a fantastic actress.

[–] mussobrennon 7 years ago

I don't like her generally, but she was great in this, a very well deserved Oscar for her and the film (an even more an unpopular opinion)

[–] Otter (24464) 7 years ago

it was an excellent performance, and my only criticism is that she lacked a certain passion. If there had been more chemistry, more genuine love, more sexual passion between the leading characters, the movie might have been heartbreaking as well as witty.

Which is a fairly minor criticism. Mainly, I'm grateful that Paltrow got the role and not Winona Ryder, who was originally schedule to play Lady Viola, Thomas Kent, Romeo, and Juliet. She couldn't even do an English accent, much less play multiple historical roles and Shakespeare!

[–] Cookie.L.A. (2117) 7 years ago

This film and Paltrow seem to have suffered some backlash over the years...but the Oscars it got are fully deserved (well, Judy Dench's 5 second role aside!)

It's an excellent film.

[–] liscarkat (16515) 5 years ago

Many (including me) are put off by the nutty stuff she espouses, but she was great in this, as well as in "Emma".