Shakespeare in Love (1998)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138097/
If you're going to make a film about Shakespeare then why not do it in the style of - well, Shakespeare? Something of a high-risk strategy, perhaps, but this film pulls it off magnificently. All the Shakespearean devices are there: a play within a play; confusion over identities; swapped gender; the flow split between characters; slapstick; a strong story. All this together with some modern day gags - "Follow that cab!".
Playwright Tom Stoppard shares the credit for the script which is excellent. Sometimes the language is difficult to follow but it's not half as bad as 'real' Shakespeare. If you'd quite like to understand more of the Bard but struggle with the language then this is an excellent way in. It neatly side-steps the problem of trying to re-write the plays in modern day language.
No wonder it received seven Oscars. Recommended.