From Deseret News archives:
William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet
Film review
But while it is possible to update Shakespeare successfully take a look at last year's "Richard III," in which Ian McKellen moved the action to 1930s England, during a fictional Facist coup "Romeo's" stylized direction is so obnoxiously brash and in-your-face that it just becomes tiresome.
Let's give director Luhrmann this however he does take risks, avoiding obvious conventions at every turn.
Luhrmann, whose Australian musical-comedy "Strictly Ballroom" was an international hit, takes a chaotic, wild-eyed approach to the material here so wild-eyed that this film makes "The Rock" look like it was on valium.
In fact, it's so MTV maybe it should be called "Beavis & Butt-Head's Romeo & Juliet."
While that's OK for a sequence or two, as Luhrmann is attempting to pull us into the chaos that makes up the lives of these two families, it rarely slows down long enough to let the exposition and Shakespeare's words take hold.
This is even more evident when he does slow down, and the power of the work is allowed to play out in relative calm. Two famous scenes most pointedly demonstrate this the balcony scene, which Luhrmann stages mostly in a swimming pool, and the death scene, in which Romeo and Juliet are surrounded by candles, as if it's an outtake from "Like Water For Chocolate."
The performances are earnest, and though Leonardo DiCaprio looks a bit frail for the character, his delivery is highly emotional. Even better is Claire Danes as Juliet, luminous in the scene where they meet for the first time, and in perfect pitch most of the way. Also notable are Pete Postlethwaite as Father Laurence (who wears a huge tattooed cross on his back) and Harold Perrineau as Mercutio (though having him cross-dress for a costume ball is sure to be controversial).
Some of the more seasoned actors here, however, are something else. John Leguizamo as Tybalt is a caricature, Paul Sorvino as the head of the Capulet family is way over the top (especially his ridiculous hispanic accent) and many other familiar faces have little to do besides scowl (Brian Dennehy and M. Emmet Walsh among them).
It's hard not to applaud Luhrmann's intentions in taking such an outrageous stab at a classic piece and hoping to bring in teenage entertainment dollars at the box office.
But like too many movies these days, one wishes he would devote as much attention to developing characters and telling a compelling story as he does setting up fancy camera shots and working out in the editing room.
Recent comments
this film was the best i have seen in ages i think it was a...
fhfhh | March 10, 2005 at 11:46 a.m.
i think the Baz Luhrmans 'Romeo and Juliet' is brilliant.
I
had...
kirsty | April 26, 2000 at 3:08 p.m.
I agree, this is what's known as "Theater of the Absurd".
It was...
Avi Green | Sept. 21, 1999 at 10:12 a.m.
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, Brian Dennehy, John Leguizamo, Pete Postlethwaite, Paul Sorvino, Diane Venora.
Find a Movie Theater
- Layton's Doug and Emmy's to close 8:14 p.m.
- Congressional vote on playoffs? 7:51 p.m.
- 2010 World Cup daily schedule 7:24 p.m.
- Notre Dame won't go to a bowl game 7:10 p.m.
- Nebraska could now help TCU 7:09 p.m.
- Cops need help in tool heist 7:08 p.m.
- Source says Flyers fire Stevens 7:07 p.m.
- Murder case starts for juvenile 6:46 p.m.
- Court decision could cost $15M 6:44 p.m.
- West Bountiful fire displaces three 6:25 p.m.
- Mr. Football 2009: Tuni Kanuch
- Ed Smart infuriated with revelations
- 5A high school football All-State
- Miller predicted Tiger's rough road
- Utah Jazz going green with unis
- 4A high school football: All-State
- Harpring's NBA career is over
- Nutty Putty Cave to be sealed today
- MVPs wrap up stellar prep careers
- Jazz: Miles, Kirilenko to play Friday
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
409 - Max Hall issues apology
393 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
362 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
293 - Utes won't respond to Hall
278 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
247 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
235 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
189 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
183 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179
i have no family who can help so regardless if i have a place to stay or not...
"Mormons don't even celebrate advent. What is up with this?" There's...
He just does not have good basketball instincts. I know this is his first...
To the 5:04 comentator, This is a FEDERAL prosecution. It is the entire...
Skousen and Beck? What an utter embarassment! THe fact that we have a panel...
I'm a little surprised by this choice of all-staters. I thought for sure San...
I find it strange when folks suggest that Atheism is a religion of its own....
Would you want to deprive people of all their pet lizards, pet birds, and all...
To: Tim D. | 5:21 a.m. Dec. 3, 2009 You said, "I have one BIG hang up with...
"Light travels faster than sound, which is why someone may appear bright...



