A film review of Baz Luhrmann's William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

One of the most beloved and well-known tragedies of modern times is William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet . In 1996 the Australian director Baz Luhrmann took on the challenge of a new and unconventional interpretation of the play, creating an intense love story filled with glamour, great music, tons of glitz, and avant-garde cinematography. Using the term “red curtain cinema” for his technique of using theatrical conventions to invigorate films to dazzling heights, Luhrmann describes the important characteristics of his style as taking the well-known tale and setting it in a heightened, creative world that the audience can participate in, while always leaving a “thread of recollection” to remind people of the movie's origins. For William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet it's the “star-crossed lovers” transplanted to modern-day Verona Beach , yet still peppered with Shakespeare's iambic pentameter. Whether this movie was a successful adaptation of the play or not will now be discussed.

Baz Luhrmann shifted the setting of this tragic love story into the seething and un-resting world of Verona Beach , filled with Latin American atmosphere. In its streets the feuding gangs put on mind-blowing shoot-outs (in Natural Born Killers / Reservoir Dogs -style) using handguns manufactured by gunsmiths called “Sword” or “Dagger” (driving at characters' remarks such as “put up your swords”). The Capulets and Montagues names are resplendent on the cover of Vernona's biggest newspapers as well as emblazoned in big letters on top of the families' office blocks. And while the camera pans quickly from one spot to the other (in good old CNN tradition) right in the middle of all the fuss is a church crowned by the statue of Jesus holding his arms wide open for everyone.

One contrast among many used by Baz Luhrmann to bring this colourful and whirling world to life. He also applied the original Shakespearean words to set a contrast against the modern character of the production and occasionally changed the meaning of particular sentences to give them a twist (so people today understand insinuations which were obvious in Shakespeares' times but not noticeable to a modern audience).

In addition, Luhrmann took a modern view on each character, taking the play to the next level and giving them character traits that may only have been hinted at, for example the Prince being a police captain or Romeo's best friend Mercutio being portrayed as a drag queen. These character traits were made complete by a superb performance by the cast: Harold Perrineau as funky, fun-loving Mercutio or John Leguziamo's wicked portayal of cat-like Tybalt. Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio were also outstanding as the lovers. They succeed by playing their roles naturally and intensely at the same time, and yet they portray their characters with such casualness that it is a pleasure to watch their every move.

All in all I think it is a very successful adaptation. One has to think of Baz Luhrmann not as your usual director, but more as an artist. He has taken the classic tale and has made it his own, with the use of bold imagery and a mix of modern with the old. The soul is in the presentation. It's theatrical, colourful and dazzling to the eyes. And with his unique “red curtain” style of creating a story, Luhrmann has used his talent to connect the masses to the stage. So if you are looking for one of the most heart-warming stories in our society with a new twist, then go and watch the movie…it is well worth seeing!

Vanessa Boese, 2.Semester

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