| William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet | |
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Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Baz Luhrmann |
| Produced by | Baz Luhrmann Gabriella Martinelli |
| Screenplay by | Craig Pearce Baz Luhrmann |
| Based on | Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare |
| Starring | Leonardo DiCaprio Claire Danes Brian Dennehy John Leguizamo Pete Postlethwaite Paul Sorvino Diane Venora |
| Music by | Nellee Hooper Marius de Vries (Composers) Craig Armstrong (Composer, orchestrator, and conductor) |
| Cinematography | Donald M. McAlpine |
| Editing by | Jill Bilcock |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
| Release date(s) | November 1, 1996 |
| Running time | 120 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $14.5 million |
| Box office | $147,554,999 |
William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet is a 1996 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 leading 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 (manufactured by 'Sword').
Some of the names were also changed. Lord and Lady Montague and Lord and Lady Capulet were given first names (as opposed to the Shakespeare original where their first names are never mentioned), Friar Lawrence became Father Lawrence, and Prince Escalus was renamed Captain Prince.
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Set in modern day, in the city of Verona Beach, the Capulets and the Montagues are arch-rivals. The animosity of the older generation—Fulgencio (Paul Sorvino) & Gloria Capulet (Diane Venora) and Ted (Brian Dennehy) & 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 gunfight ensues between Benvolio and Tybalt, setting fire to the gas 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 the peace."
Caroline expresses her worry over her son, 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 to discuss marrying Fulgencio's daughter, Juliet (Claire Danes), although Fulgencio believes her too young to wed. 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.
Meanwhile, at Sycamore Grove, the Montague boys meet their friend, Mercutio (Harold Perrineau), who has gotten them tickets to the Capulet party. Romeo takes an ecstasy 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 an elaborate aquarium inside, he spots Juliet on the other side just as her Nurse (Miriam Margolyes) ushers her off to dance. Tybalt spots Romeo and vows to kill him for invading his family's home, but Fulgencio stops him, afraid he will make a scene.
Meanwhile, Romeo and Juliet sneak into an elevator and kiss. The Nurse, however, spots them when the doors open and drags Juliet away, revealing Romeo’s identity as a Montague. At the same time, Romeo realizes Juliet is a Capulet. Romeo is pulled from the party by Mercutio, but Romeo manages to sneak 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. He 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 cousin Balthasar (Jesse Bradford) as witnesses.
In the streets, Tybalt encounters Mercutio and their respective gangs just as Romeo arrives. Romeo attempts to make peace, but Tybalt assaults him. Mercutio intervenes and batters Tybalt, about to shoot Tybalt when Romeo stops him. Tybalt slashes Mercutio with a shard of glass, killing him, but not before Mercutio curses the warring houses. Angry that Mercutio, neither a Capulet nor Montague, has been murdered, Romeo kills Tybalt.
Prince banishes Romeo from the city on pain of death. Romeo, hiding with Father Lawrence, claims he would rather die than be banished. The Nurse arrives and tells Romeo that Juliet is waiting for him. At the Capulet mansion Juliet prays, horrified by what has happened. When Romeo climbs over her balcony, she kisses him and they have sex. Meanwhile, Fulgencio decides Juliet will marry Paris.
The next morning, Romeo narrowly escapes in time as Juliet's mother arrives and tells her she has been promised to Paris. She refuses to marry, so her father threatens to disown her and throw her onto the streets. Her mother and Nurse insist it would be in her best interest to marry Paris. Faced with these possibilities, Juliet sees Father Lawrence, imploring him to help her and threatening to commit suicide. The Priest proposes she fake death instead and 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 to begin their new life together. He gives her the poison necessary to make her seem dead. After saying goodnight to her mother, Juliet drinks the potion. 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.
Devastated, 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 takes the poison. The two kiss before Romeo dies. Juliet picks up Romeo's handgun and shoots herself in the head. The following morning the two lovers are discovered in each other's arms. Prince condemns both families whose feuding led to such a tragedy. Coroners take the bodies away as crowds of onlookers gather as both families unite and make peace.
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While some parts of the film were shot in Miami, most of the film was shot in Mexico City and Veracruz. For instance, 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 in the Del Valle neighborhood.[1]
Natalie Portman had been chosen for the role of Juliet, but after production began, it was felt that the footage looked like DiCaprio was "molesting" her.[2] Eventually, Luhrmann agreed that the age difference between the two actors was too great. Filming was halted to find another actress for the part.
The film grossed USD$147,554,998 worldwide at the box office[3] on a US$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] James Berardinelli, a critic of Shakespeare plays adapted into film writes, "Ultimately, no matter how many innovative and unconventional flourishes it applies, the success of any adaptation of a Shakespeare play is determined by two factors: the competence of the director and the ability of the main cast members. Luhrmann, Danes, and DiCaprio place this Romeo and Juliet in capable hands."[7]
Leonardo DiCaprio won Favorite Actor and Claire Danes won Favorite Actress in a Romance at the 1997 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards.[8] 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.[8] At the 51st BAFTA Film Awards, director Baz Luhrmann won Best Direction. Luhrmann and Mary Haile won the Best Adapted Screenplay. Nellee Hooper won the Best Film Music. And Catherine Martin won the Best Production Design. The film was also nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Sound.[8]
The film won several awards.[8] At the Berlin International Film Festival in 1997, DiCaprio won the Silver Bear Award for Best Actor and Luhrmann won the Alfred Bauer Award. Luhrmann was also nominated for the Golden Bear Award for Best Picture.[8] At the 69th Academy Awards, Catherine Martin and Brigitte Broch were nominated for Best Art Direction/Set Decoration.[8]
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