Lovely Victorian costumes and lots of sexy romantic lines (probably lifted from the novel on which it is based) serve to make this historical romance an easily-digested, pleasant experience, despite the acting which is merely competent at most times, poor casting, and an apparent desire to sell England' to the U.S. by including lots of twee stereotypical country scenes with sheep and things. Gwyneth Paltrow teams up with a fellow academic who fancies her but has to overcome his own inhibitions. They research the scandalous love life of a well-respected dead poet, uncovering more and more that flies in the face of what was known about him. The movie slips effortlessly from modern day to Victorian England as we revisit the poet, who is capable of far more passion than Paltrow or her reluctant suitor are capable even of imagining. There are lots of missed opportunities the connection with a strong past romance could have lit fires in the souls of those in the present day or the searching for truth could itself have been a bit more passionate and convincing, as we had, say, in A Brilliant Mind. But as a flawed but nevertheless enjoyable period drama it's woodenness at least doesn't distract too much from poetry the audience can see, even if the main characters seem oblivious to it in all but clinical awareness.