Another use of mise en scene is the scene where the hip hop music starts and the Montagues appear driving down the street. They are wearing bright, flowery shirts. This gives the audience the impression that they are happy-go-lucky boys. We also see that the boys are confident and not very serious and, although they are have guns, they are just playing at being men. Luhrmann deepens this effect by choosing that they drive an open top bright yellow car.
The third mise en scene is when the Montagues are getting their petrol; the Capulets arrive at the petrol station. The audience, don’t see the Capulets faces till they come out of the car, feet and legs first. Both their car and their costumes are black with catholic symbols. Which represents they are the complete opposite of the fun loving Montague boys. The Montagues are visibly scared by the Capulets which is shown in their facial expressions and their body language. This shows how much fear the Capulets can create. This contrast between them shows how different the two families are, although both are power hungry and stubborn. Luhrmann has done this to show what opposition both Romeo and Juliet have to go though to find love.
The second presentational device is cinematography. This is used effectively in the scene where a television set with a news reporter within it. The background is very dark and the television is at first small positioned against the background. The opening shot is a long shot and has been taken straight on, with television in the middle. The set gradually moves towards the audience, getting bigger and bigger till it fills the majority of the screen. Alongside mise en scene, this shows the audience it will be a modern interpretation of Shakespeare’s play. It also develops the feeling of magnitude that the film is going to produce.
The second scene is the second shot of Verona city. Its shows the two families towers with a statue of Jesus in the middle. The camera pulls back to show various long shots of Verona. There are a lot of fast and erratic movements in this scene but the angle stays direct. The direct shot makes us feel involved in the film, yet, insignificant against it. The audience feels this because the story is portrayed to be so powerful and the rivalry between the two families is moving and vigorous. The scene is very harsh and inelegant as it’s so hasty and changeable.
The third scene is where the main characters are shown with their names and family. This is a parody from a soap or a program. Luhrmann uses it as it’s a good way to show them to the viewers. It is a medium shot, where most of the body can be seen, and the angle is straight. The effect of this is that the audience sees that the two families are both very similar in wealth and distinction. We also see the characters families’ names; this is very helpful when working out whether they are Montague or Capulet.
The third presentational, sound, is used in the scene where we see the city, Verona, in erratic movements. Luhrmann uses the priest from the main part of the film to repeat the prologue as a voice over. This is non-diegetic sound as we don’t expect to hear it but it does amplify the intensity of the movie. The effect on the audience is that the voice over is scary and profound, which makes them pay attention and engage in the film. Dramatic music is also played during this scene which is parallel sound. Luhrmann intended to make the music strident and harsh to show the audience the vigorousness of the movie. We also hear the diegetic sounds of cars and helicopters which heightens the scene of urgency in the movie.
The second scene is of the grinding of Tybalt’s boots against the floor, putting out a cigarette. This diegetic sounds enhance the fact that there is no other noises going on in the background. This gives the audience the impression of importance and power as the noise is so singular. This scene is a contrast with the other scenes the audience has seen so far. It is neither loud and dramatic nor fun and happy go lucky. The sound is quiet and serious and sets the audience’s teeth on edge. The character, Tybalt, seems tacitum to the audience in the scene, which makes the audience see him as the ‘baddy’ of the film. The third scene is when we hear the sounds of the petrol sign. This is a diegetic sound as we expect to hear the sign creaking as its swinging in the breeze. The scene has no other sounds going on apart from the sign which heightens the sense of rivalry. It’s also very profound as the audience can sense the intensity of the movement which makes them realise the importance of the silence before the fight which is bound to happen. We also feel we about to see something which is of extreme importance to the rest of the film.
All presentational devices are used together to compliment each other and they create the desired effect. In the beginning where the very first scene is shown, we see a news reporter set in a television. Both the mise en scene and the cinematography create an effect on the audience. They show the film is going to be modern; more so then the usual Shakespeare plays. They suggest the story will be told as a flashback, that the events have already been. To create the effect they have to merge together. Another example of how the devices compliment each other is when the main scene and the voice over begin. To make such a dramatic scene all three are needed. Mise en scene is used when the two towers are shown to show rivalry and division. There is also advertising showing the two families which supports this effect. Cinematography has fast movements and direct angle to show various long shots of Verona. This makes the audience see the enormity of the movie and the power and the harshness. Sound uses the diegetic noises like cars and helicopters along with the non-diegetic sound of the voice over. These and the parallel music create a sense of urgency and fear. All three together form a profound and strident scene which couldn’t be produced with just one of the devices.
The success of Baz Luhrmann’s use of presentational devices is huge. Although the story of Romeo and Juliet is an old and aged film, Luhrmann engages the audience with a dramatic, romantic love story. Consequently the film is immensely successful and undoubtedly most of it is down to how he considered mise en scene, sound and cinematography. Naturally this essay couldn’t include all scenes from the opening extract but there are the main ones down. Overall the film is overawing, overbearing and overflowing with hatred, rivalry and love.
