William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (1996)

William-Shakespeare's-Romeo-+-Juliet-(1996)
William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (1996)

FieldDetails
Movie NameWilliam Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (1996)
DirectorBaz Luhrmann
WriterBaz Luhrmann, Craig Pearce; based on the play by William Shakespeare
Lead ActorLeonardo DiCaprio
CastLeonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, John Leguizamo, Harold Perrineau, Paul Sorvino, Diane Venora
GenreDrama, Romance
Release DateNovember 1, 1996 (USA)
Duration2h 2m (122 min)
Budget$14.5 million (estimated)
LanguageEnglish
IMDb Rating6.7/10

William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet

Setting Shakespeare’s tragedy of Romeo and Juliet to music by the likes of the Butthole Surfers probably has The Bard rolling in his grave, but what the hell, it’s open season on the classics these days. I won’t even pretend that I understand all the nuance and symbolism of Luhrmann’s instantly popular retelling of the tale, but I will say that this is one of the most entertaining renditions of any Shakespearean work I’ve seen to date.

Closer to an update of West Side Story than anything else, what makes this rendition of the “two star-crossed lovers” saga stand out is dialogue which is largely faithful to the text set against a post-modern backdrop frighteningly reminiscent of Los Angeles. While it’s a thrill to watch (if you can avoid a headache), it’s maddeningly hard to follow and considerably self-conscious. Plus there’s the issue of a soundtrack that’s probably sold more copies than the film did tickets Will this version survive the test of time? Probably not, but it will forever stand out as an amazing and powerful experiment in filmmaking.

If you dismissed the movie as kids’ stuff in its theatrical release, think again, and get thee to a video merchant.

To watch more movies like William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (1996) visit Putlocker.

Also Watch

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top