The film unfolds during the later years of Queen Elizabeth’s rule and depicts a period when William Shakespeare (played by Joseph Fiennes) finds himself struggling with a lack of inspiration and financial difficulties. He's pressured by Richard Burbage (Martin Clunes) and Geoffrey Rush, portraying Philip Henslowe, both seeking work that he is supposedly already obligated to produce. The situation appears rather grim.…

I can’t say I ever forgot this film; it was actually what made me stop watching the Academy Awards. It really shook my perception, making it clear that the outcome wasn't necessarily about the merits of the movie itself, but something else entirely. The fact that it took home Best Picture over Saving Private Ryan is hard to ignore. And then there was the win for best original screenplay, edging out Bulworth. I …