Write a review of Baz Luhrmann's 'Romeo and Juliet' analysing the ways in which you think he makes it appealing to a modern audience?

Charlie Bond

Write a review of Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ analysing the ways in which you think he makes it appealing to a modern audience?

Baz Luhrmann the Australian film director chose to modernize the well known play of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. The play began as a poem, written by Arthur Brook called ‘The Tragicall History of Romeous and Juliet.’ The poem itself is a translation of a popular fictional novel by Bandello .William Shakespeare saw this poem and chose to adapt it to a play script in 1593. ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is referred to as Shakespeare’s most popular play because and of its thrilling and complex plot. The play script since then has been adapted and interpreted a large number of times for many theatre productions and films but none of the scale of Luhrmann’s. The entertaining and dramatic plot was way ahead of its time and still can used as a modern story line in an modern film in today’s society as Luhrmann superbly demonstrated in his 1996 adaptation of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

Luhrmann's interpretation of Shakespeare’s play can be vastly explored and the techniques which he used to modernize it can be deeply analysed. Luhrmann’s interpretation was found to be appealing and attractive to a modern audience, the reasons for this can also be thoroughly examined. Luhrmann chose to use fast pace editing and extreme close ups throughout the film and he uses a variety of different shots which adds another dimension of fast and dramatic action, whilst still keeping the essence of the original play.

The film begins with an exciting prologue which features fast camera action and dramatic music. The prologue informs the audience of the immense rivalry between the two Protagonist families, of Montague and the Capulet. The director using a newsreader and media type camera work of action and the conflict which helps to inform the audience of the storyline which helps the audience understand and are more comfortable with the dense and complex plot. Using media helps to modernise the film and as today’s society is largely dominated by media and the sight of a newsreader is a familiar sight for the spectators of the film. This media on media makes the film believable and realistic whilst still being action packed and lively this is appealing to a modern audience as it is lively and realistic.

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Fast interchanges between clips of action, variety of different characters and camera shots are to present a modern type of introduction to a film. The film starts quickly and straight from the start draws the attention of the audience. A helicopter and images of guns are used to update the play script to a modern film. Clips of violence and guns give the prologue a modern focus and introduce a running theme throughout the film. These also items are regularly used in modern films and are common sights in film and media. Powerful music is expressed which adds extra dramatic to the prologue. The prologue ends with a pan shot of the statue of Verona with passionate and dramatic music climaxing. A voice over then announces “a pair of star crossed lovers” and text appears on screen this firmly implants those words in to the audiences heads and establishes to be the main theme in film. This action filled introduction attracts the audience to watch and appeals to a modern audience which contradicts against their original opinion of Shakespeare. This then delivering a good first impression to audience and gets their attention.

The prologue then dissolves in to the opening scene which contrasts against the powerful and dramatic prologue. The title sequence begins with the Capulet boys driving around in their car. Youth culture type music is being played which contradicts against the music used in the previous scene. Luhrmann chose to have the Capulet boys driving around in their car, insulting people and going to parties as that is the kind of activity that young rich men would participate in, in their spare time. That helps to bring the film into the modern day.

today’s modern day society so it adds to the realism The actors chosen for the Capulet boys are the kind you would expect to see in a modern day and to not look out of place amongst the setting. Modern costumes such as bright Hawaiian shirts are as change to the traditional costumes that you associate with Shakespeare. The families of Montague and Capulet in the original play first meet at their town centre, Luhrmann thought that they needed to update to a more modern and realistic setting for the opening scene. Luhrmann decided that a petrol station would be a better place where people would regularly cross each other.

There is a variety of different camera techniques used in the opening scene help add something extra to the title sequence. The use of close up in the feet tell the audience that it is a character of stature and importance and help identify the character. Luhrmann chose to keep the original language of Shakespeare to keep the essence of the play that originally made it so popular. There is a range of different camera angle and lots of editing made the scene modern and action packed but too many camera changes. The use of extreme close ups on Tybalt’s face showed he was menacing and not to be messed with that adds the tension when he appears. His metal teeth symbolise strength and imply s that he is fearsome. Tybalt’s shirt featured a religious image to imply that they believed in religion and that it was very important in their day, but still keeping the modern theme. Close ups of people faces in reaction to “Do you bite your thumb at us sir?” help show that it is an abusive term to the audience. This helps simplify the complicated language for the viewers. Luhrmann uses pauses and on screen text to help identify and imply that Tybalt is main character and one of importance. He also uses close up of their family name on their gun which imply that they are a family of greatness whilst helping to simplify the complicated plot by clearly identifying what side people are on. Luhrmann uses symbolism throughout the scene. He uses an extreme close up of the gun of Abra where it says sword to show that the gun represents a sword but they use a gun to continue on with the modern theme. Western style music is used when the guns are drawn to represent tension the atmosphere and the music is something a modern audience is familiar with. At the end of the scene there is a long shot of Benvolio used to imply the length distance that Tybalt is away from him. Also it helps show the accuracy of his shots and what his view is of the retreating Benvolio.

The director chose to cast Leonardo di Caprio as Romeo because it draws audience to the cinema and is a recognizable face for the viewers. The audience feel comfortable watching him as he is familiar and it helps to break down the complicated language barrier and complex plot if there is someone you think you know. Luhrmann chose to cast that girl as Juliet because she looks like some one you have seen before and are also you feel comfortable watching.

At the party scene the director re creates the original romance of the play in the party because he uses Romantic music and fireworks which you associate with romance. The editing of the scene is much slower than previous scene with lighter music and less action and a more relaxing atmosphere. Mercutio and others rake drugs during his “Queen Mab” speech and he talks about a fairy that makes people dream which is just connotations of what drugs make you feel and what effect they have and how serious they are. Romeo and Juliet see each other through a fish tank, the fish are associated with relax calm and romance so it is ironic that they meet this way. Also the tank is modern item so it helps to modernise the film. Juliet comes to the party dressed as an angel this symbolises that she is sweet and innocent. Romeo is dressed as a knight which connotations of a knight are strong and worthy. This makes it ironic as they are meant to be together by there costumes. Whereas Paris is dressed as a spaceman which has connotation of unrealistic, artificial, money which make Paris a fake and a person with money.

The original romance of the play is captures in the balcony scene because Romeo hides from Juliet as she stands by the pool so it creates a sense of secrecy. Then it changes to an under water camera shot which helps to add to the romance. It is a slow scene and with close up and effective editing which adds to the romance. Then the security guard appears, the risk of being caught again adds to the romance. Soft lighting is used which is also romantic.

The original scenes of act thee are brought straight into the twentieth century because modern and retro costumes and objects are used such as sunglasses, Hawaiian shirts. Also it has a modern setting of Verona beach Los Angeles instead of original setting bring it up to date. The Capulets wear black, Mercutio contrasts against them which symbolises dislike difference in views. There is fast pace editing as the tension and dramatic in the fight scene begins to build up. Pathetic fallacy, weather reflects the mood of the film, helps to build up the suspense and tension amongst the film. These techniques help modernise the film.

In conclusion Luhrmann uses a wide variety of techniques to make the film appealing for a modern day audience. Deciding to keep the same script was a brave decision but was beneficial to his creative adaptation. He chose to focus more on the editing than tampering with the plot of the play, this worked well as he still kept the essence of the original play.

I think that Luhrmann achieved in making it appealing to a modern audience. Luhrmann got nominated at the Oscars for Best achievement in Art Direction for his work on “Romeo and Juliet” but lost to “Titanic.

Charlie Bond