Romeo + Juliet

Romeo + Juliet

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Baz Luhrmann
Produced by Baz Luhrmann
Gabriella Martinelli
Written by Play:
William Shakespeare
Screenplay:
Craig Pearce
Baz Luhrmann
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio
Claire Danes
John Leguizamo
Harold Perrineau
Pete Postlethwaite
Brian Dennehy
Christina Pickles
Paul Sorvino
Diane Venora
Paul Rudd
Vondie Curtis-Hall
Miriam Margolyes
Music by Nellee Hooper
(Composer)
Craig Armstrong
(Composer
(Orchestrator)
(Conductor)
Marius De Vries
(Composer)
Cinematography Donald McAlpine
Editing by Jill Bilcock
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date(s) November 1, 1996
Running time 120 minutes
Country United States
Australia
Language English
Budget $14.5 million
Gross revenue $147,554,999
Preceded by Strictly Ballroom
Followed by Moulin Rouge!

William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet is a 1996 American film adaptation of William Shakespeare's romantic tragedy of the same name. It was directed by Australian Baz Luhrmann and stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes in the eponymous roles.

The film is an abridged modernization of Shakespeare's play. While it retains the original Shakespearean dialogue, the Montagues and the Capulets are represented as warring business empires and swords are replaced by guns.

Contents

Plot

In modern times, in the city of Verona Beach, the Capulets and the Montagues are rivals. The animosity of the older generation - Fulgencio (Paul Sorvino) and Gloria Capulet (Diane Venora) and Ted (Brian Dennehy) and Caroline Montague (Christina Pickles) - is felt by their younger relatives. While stopping for gas, the Montague boys led by Benvolio (Dash Mihok), Romeo's cousin, come face to face with the Capulet boys led by Tybalt (John Leguizamo), Juliet's cousin. A gun fight ensues between Benvolio and Tybalt, setting fire to the petrol station and creating chaos in the city. The Chief of Police, Captain Prince (Vondie Curtis-Hall), reprimands the boys, as well as Fulgencio and Ted. He warns them that if such behavior continues, their lives "shall pay the forfeit of peace".

Caroline expresses her worry over Romeo (Leonardo DiCaprio), who has been depressed. Benvolio talks to his cousin and learns that Romeo is in love, but the object of his affection, Rosaline, does not love him. Dave Paris (Paul Rudd), son of the Governor and nominated "Bachelor of the Year", meets with Fulgencio. Paris wants to marry Fulgencio's daughter Juliet (Claire Danes), but Fulgencio thinks she is too young. Nevertheless, he invites Paris to a party he is hosting that night. Gloria tries convincing Juliet to accept Paris' proposal, but she is not persuaded.

At Sycamore Grove, the Montague boys and Romeo meet their friend Mercutio (Harold Perrineau), who has gotten them tickets to the Capulet party. Mercutio tries convincing Romeo to attend the party, which Rosaline will also be attending. Romeo takes a pill Mercutio gives him, and they proceed to the Capulet mansion. The effects of the drug and the party overwhelm Romeo, who goes to the restroom. While admiring the fish tank, he spots Juliet on the other side.

Before they can speak, Juliet's nurse (Miriam Margolyes) whisks her off to dance with Paris. Romeo is spotted by Tybalt, who vows to kill him for invading his family's home, but Fulgencio stops him, afraid he will make a scene. Romeo and Juliet sneak into an elevator and kiss, but are spotted by the nurse when the doors open. Juliet is dragged away by her nurse, who reveals Romeo’s identity as a Montague at the same time Romeo realises Juliet is a Capulet. Romeo is pulled from the party by Mercutio while Juliet watches from a balcony.

Romeo sneaks back to the mansion, hiding under Juliet’s balcony. Juliet emerges into the yard, not knowing he is there, and proclaims her love for him before Romeo sneaks up behind her. Juliet is horrified that he risked death to return, but Romeo tells her he does not care whether he is caught. Knowing her nurse is looking for her, Juliet tells him that if he sends word by the following day, she will be his.

Romeo visits Father Lawrence (Pete Postlethwaite), telling him he wants to marry Juliet. The priest agrees to marry the pair. Romeo passes the word onto Juliet’s nurse, and the lovers are married that afternoon, with the nurse and Romeo's friend Balthasar (Jesse Bradford) as witnesses.

Tybalt encounters Mercutio and the Montagues. As the two are about to draw their weapons, Romeo arrives. He attempts to make peace, but Tybalt assaults him. Mercutio is about to kill Tybalt when Romeo stops him. Tybalt stabs Mercutio with a shard of glass, killing him. Romeo kills the fleeing Tybalt.

Prince banishes Romeo from the city on pain of death. Romeo, hiding with Father Lawrence, claims he would rather die than be banished. At the Capulet mansion Juliet prays, horrified by what has happened. When Romeo climbs over her balcony, she kisses him and they make love. Fulgencio decides Juliet will marry Paris.

The next morning, Romeo prepares to leave as Juliet begs him to stay. Juliet's nurse tells them Gloria is on her way to Juliet's room. Romeo climbs out the window, promising Juliet he will see her again. Juliet learns she has been promised to Paris. When she refuses to marry Paris, her father tells her that if she does not marry Paris she will be disowned and thrown onto the streets. Her mother refuses to delay the wedding and her nurse tells her it would be in her best interests to marry Paris.

Juliet sees Friar Lawrence, imploring him to help her and threatening to commit suicide. The priest proposes she fake death instead, so she will be put in the Capulet vault to awaken 24 hours later. Romeo will be told of the plot, sneak into the vault, and once reunited the two can travel to Mantua. He gives her the poison necessary to make her seem dead.

After saying goodnight to her mother, Juliet takes the poison and collapses. She is found in the morning, declared dead, and placed in the Capulet vault. Balthasar learns Juliet is dead and tells Romeo, who was not home when the messenger arrived to tell him of the plan.

Romeo returns to Verona, where he buys poison. Father Lawrence learns that Romeo has no idea Juliet is alive. Romeo enters the church where Juliet lies. Juliet awakens as Romeo drinks the potion. The two kiss before Romeo dies. Juliet picks up Romeo's handgun and shoots herself in the head. The two lovers are discovered in each other's arms.

Cast

Natalie Portman had been considered for the role of Juliet, but it was felt that the footage looked like DiCaprio was "molesting" her.[1] Eventually, Luhrmann agreed that the age difference between the two actors was too great. Filming was halted to find another actress for the part.

Production

Most of the film was shot in Mexico City and Veracruz, but other parts were shot in Miami. The Capulet mansion was set at Chapultepec Castle while the ballroom was built on Stage One of Churubusco Studios; and the church is Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in the Del Valle neighborhood.[2]

Reception

The film grossed USD$147,554,999 worldwide at the box office[3] on a USD$14.5 million budget. The film premiered November 1, 1996 in the United States and Canada in 1,276 theaters and grossed $11.1 million its opening weekend, ranking #1 at the box office. It went on to gross $46.3 million in the United States and Canada.[4]

Critics gave the film generally positive reviews. According to the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 70% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 53 reviews.[5] However, Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times disliked the film, giving it 2 stars and saying, "This production was a very bad idea ... I have never seen anything remotely approaching the mess that the new punk version of Romeo & Juliet makes of Shakespeare's tragedy." Ebert wrote that Pete Postlethwaite and Miriam Margolyes were "the only actors in the film who seem completely at home" and said, "In one grand but doomed gesture, writer-director Baz Luhrmann has made a film that (a) will dismay any lover of Shakespeare, and (b) bore anyone lured into the theater by promise of gang wars, MTV-style."[6]

Leonardo DiCaprio won Favorite Actor and Claire Danes won Favorite Actress in a Romance at the 1997 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards.[7] At the 1997 MTV Movie Awards, Danes won Best Female Performance. DiCaprio was nominated for Best Male Performance, and DiCaprio and Danes were both nominated for Best Kiss and Best On-Screen Duo.[7] At the 51st BAFTA Film Awards, Baz Luhrmann won the award for Best Direction. Luhrmann and Craig Pearce won the award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Nellee Hooper won the award for Best Film Music. And Catherine Martin won the award for Best Production Design. The film was also nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Sound.[7]

The film won several awards.[7] At the Berlin International Film Festival in 1997, Leonardo DiCaprio won the Silver Bear Award for Best Actor and director Baz Luhrmann won the Alfred Bauer Award. Luhrmann was also nominated for the Golden Bear Award for Best Picture.[7] At the 69th Academy Awards, Catherine Martin and Brigitte Broch were nominated for Best Art Direction/Set Decoration.[7]

Soundtrack

Romeo + Juliet
Soundtrack by various artists
Released October 29, 1996
Genre Soundtracks
Label Capitol
Producer Garbage, Nellee Hooper, Marius De Vries, Justin Warfield, Des'ree.
Professional reviews
Track listing
  1. "#1 Crush" - Garbage
  2. "Local God" - Everclear
  3. "Angel" - Gavin Friday
  4. "Pretty Piece of Flesh" - One Inch Punch
  5. "Kissing You (Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet)" - Des'ree
  6. "Whatever (I Had a Dream)" - Butthole Surfers
  7. "Lovefool" - The Cardigans
  8. "Young Hearts Run Free" - Kym Mazelle
  9. "Everybody's Free (To Feel Good)" - Quindon Tarver
  10. "To You I Bestow" - Mundy
  11. "Talk Show Host" - Radiohead
  12. "Little Star" - Stina Nordenstam
  13. "You and Me Song" -The Wannadies

Home media

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ "UP AND COMING: Natalie Portman; Natalie Portman (Not Her Real Name)". February 25, 1996. 
  2. ↑ "Romeo + Juliet - Official Website, Production Notes". http://www.romeoandjuliet.com/players/pn1.html. 
  3. ↑ "Romeo + Juliet (1996)". Box Office Mojo. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=romeoandjuliet.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-14. 
  4. ↑ "Romeo + Juliet (1996) - Weekend Box Office". Box Office Mojo. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=romeoandjuliet.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-14. 
  5. ↑ "William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/william_shakespeares_romeo_and_juliet/. Retrieved 2007-10-13. 
  6. ↑ Roger Ebert (1996-11-01). ":: rogerebert.com :: Reviews :: Romeo & Juliet". Chicago Sun-Times. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/click/movie-1073352/reviews.php?critic=columns&sortby=default&page=1&rid=57350. Retrieved 2007-10-14. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117509/awards Retrieved 2007-10-14

External links

Films directed by Baz Luhrmann
1990s
Strictly Ballroom (1992) · Romeo + Juliet (1996)
2000s
Moulin Rouge! (2001) · Australia (2008)