Shakespeare In Love

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: December 11, 1998

DVD Release Date: December 7, 1999

Plot 411: Will Shakespeare has writer's block until he meets his love Viola, who inspires the play that would become Romeo and Juliet.

Review: After discovering his lover cheated on him, Will Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) is unable to write his next play. But, because the playhouse in which his plays are performed is in serious debt, he must sojourn on. He casts a young man named Thomas Kent, who is really a woman named Viola (Gweneth Paltrow), as the lead actor. However, he soon learns that she is a woman and they embark on a torrid love affair. This jump starts his writing juices and he finishes off the play. The play mirrors much of their doomed relationship though as Viola is already promised to someone else (played by Colin Firth). I love that this movie is filled with wit and laughter. They are able to incorporate many of Shakespeare's later plays through references or exact dialogue. It's a creative storytelling style, especially for drama nuts. But, even if you're not familiar with the bard's work, you'll still find this to be a highly entertaining and well-acted rom com. There's support from many superb actors, such as Geoffrey Rush, Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Rupert Everett and even Ben Affleck (if you consider him superb).

Watch It: For a great interpretation of history, even if it's not completely accurate.

Skip It: Or hold off until you've read a bit of Shakespeare so you can get the jokes better.

Valkyrie

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: December 25, 2008

DVD Release Date: May 19, 2009

Plot 411: During World War II, a group of politicians and military officials plot to kill Adolf Hitler and save Germany.

Review: Not being a history or war buff, I hadn't known prior to watching this movie that there were actually 15 assassination attempts on Hitler and that he survived them all. I don't know if that was due to his own luck, cunning or tight inner circle who protected him. Despite the failures, it's truly amazing that men within Hitler's camp would be brave enough to commit such treason knowing that he was simply nuts. I suppose difficult times bring out the best in people, and WWII was definitely more than a difficult time. Still, there is no guarantee that someone would be willing to risk his life and that of his family's for the greater good. The fact that these men did just that is a testament to the human spirit. The movie focuses on Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Tom Cruise) and a group of men trying to save what is left of "sacred Germany." It's based on a true story, which makes their actions even more unbelievable. One problem I had with this movie was simply being able to distinguish the characters from one another. There were so many uniformed men in kahoots that it was hard to keep track who was supposed to do what. Is he a good guy? Bad guy? Involved? Doesn't have a clue? This is definitely one of those flicks you need to watch more than once with the subtitles on. I was concentrating so hard on trying to ID everyone that I didn't even notice the costume, set dressing or landscape at all. The cast also includes Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branagh and Tom Wilkinson.

Watch It: For an easy access to history and what seems like a long overdue curtain call for unsung hero von Stauffenberg.

Skip It: If you watch movies as a means to escape real life. This movie gives you a cold hard look at life's brutal realities.

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