5/5 Theatre History with a Twist
  by Ronald L. Watson (San Antonio, Texas)
What a great study in theatre history. However indiscriminate the author plays with actual history, he makes up with an engaging relationship between the two leading characters. The costumes are also magnificent. This film is a tribute to the birth of the actress.

4/5 one of the best movies you've never heard of
  by Rorke Haining (Seattle)
I had never heard of this movie before, and rented it on a whim. Though it's not my favorite genre, my wife and I enjoy the occasional historical drama. We were both blown away by how great this movie is.

You might describe this movie as a cross between Shakespeare in Love and Dangerous Liaisons. I reluctantly give it only 4 stars, but only because it is outshone -- barely -- by both of those two masterpieces. And since I'm describing this movie in terms of other period pieces, I also view it as not unlike Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. Both R&GAD and Stage Beauty riff heavily off of Shakespeare and are just shy of perfection in that they aren't quite as emotionally captivating as the truly great historical dramas.

Stage Beauty is set in the time when women were not allowed to act. All female parts were played by men. The story centers around London's leading "female" actor, the toast of the town, and his chamber maid, a nobody secretly in love both with her master and with the allure of the stage itself. The maid performs as London's first actress, illegally, to explosive consequences. When the star discovers her crime, he is deeply threatened, as he has acted the part of women his entire life, and his identity is deeply rooted in cross-dressing stardom. The battle lines are drawn! I won't spoil the whole story. Suffice it to say it's full of palace intrigue, sexual politics, divided loyalties, with imperfect heroes facing the competing impulses of betrayal and redemption.

Two aspects of this movie were utterly superb. First, there is the profoundly deep and textured story line, with layer upon layer of meaning and emotion. I suspect you could watch this film a dozen times and write an essay on its themes, and still find greater depths of meaning upon the next viewing. Knowledge of Shakespearean plays will provide an additional dimension of enjoyment, but is not necessary to love the movie. And second is Billy Crudup's Oscar-worthy performance. I'm offended he wasn't at least nominated. His scenes, both as man and as woman, are expertly acted, but what puts his performance over the top into greatness is his masterful use of gesture. You rarely see such complex emotion communicated with a simple hand movement.

I would call this movie a "sleeper hit". It definitely deserves better than the complete obscurity it seems to have found. If you enjoy historical dramas or character studies at all, definitely give this one a try.

5/5 I thought she really died during the play.
  by hbueain (NY, USA)
Great movie, very funny and at the same time it's a bit Disturbing(the Ned "guy" got some serious issues).

4/5 RICHARD EYRE, OPUS 5
  by wdanthemanw (Geneva, Switzerland)
***1/2 2004. Directed by Richard Eyre. Subtle and smart variation about the paradox of the actors who must express feelings they don't sense. Two years before shooting Notes on a Scandal, Richard Eyre already delivered a little jewel. Recommended.

5/5 I rented it--now it's going on my Wish List
  by R. Kyle (USA)
Some people may not realize that those lovely female roles the Bard immortalized were at first brought to life by male actors. Ned Kynason (Billy Crudup) was one such actor and the top of his form til King Charles declared that women should play women's roles.

I thought when I came into this that I'd be cheering the women on, but I couldn't quite do that. "Stage Beauty" presents both sides of the story with such compassion it's hard not to see how wrenching the whole situation is.

As Ned says---playing women's roles gave pretty men something to hope for. He spent years under a relentless master, deleting every male gesture from his person. He truly believed that the true challenge of acting was for a man to play a woman.

Yet, there is Maria (Danes), the dresser to the great man who longs to play Desdemona herself. What hope is she to have save as a dresser and mender of Ned's fine gowns? When she 'borrows' Ned's pillow and gown and plays Desdemona illegally, she sets off a chain of events that reverses the trend of English theatre.

And why shouldn't it be so? After all, "Paris had women actors for years."

"Stage Beauty" has so many great lines, you could spend an afternoon just going back to the good scenes. Costuming, acting, everything was spot on.

I had only intended to rent this film, but I'm adding it to my Wish List and will eventually own it for my collection. It's that good and that well worth watching again.