THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 2, 1996 TAG: 9611020046
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Movie review
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: 91 lines
ROMEO AND JULIET have arrived at Virginia Beach.
Actually, it's Verona Beach, and the Chamber of Commerce can be thankful for the difference. A world of gang warfare and MTV-frenetic camera movement greets the still-troubled lovers this time around. This mod version of the Bard's teen tragedy unleashes a particularly unpleasant, dirt-smeared world in which guns replace swords and style replaces iambic pentameter.
Forsooth, though, don't write it off. This new film, arrogantly titled ``William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet'' keeps the original lines (even though there are lines like ``Farewell, my cuz''). It is not outrageous (not nearly so much as one would have expected) and it inevitably gets across its message of young love gone awry.
You are prone to hum a variation of ``Don't Cry for Me, William Shakespeare.'' Yes, the Bard can take this. His works have seen lesser and more outlandish adaptations than this.
Verona Beach is, according to director Baz Luhrmann, a ``created world.'' It was filmed in and around Mexico City.
The film opens with a TV newscaster reading the news: ``Two households both alike in dignity . . . '' Newspaper headlines blare the report ``Youths Brawl.''
The Montague boys wear flowery Hawaiian shirts while the Capulets don cool black threads. The two families are battling crime cartels. One suspects they're drug warlords, but that's all off camera.
Romeo and Juliet spot each other through a tropical fish tank and immediately go into a swoon. In a world of safe-sex worries, they're pretty reckless. They rush to an elevator for a little smooching and then meet in the swimming pool beneath her balcony. That balcony gets short shrift here. The lovers are, literally, all wet as they mouth most of the balcony-scene amours.
Luhrmann is an Australian director of grandiose opera productions who scored big in the movies with ``Strictly Ballroom,'' his comedy-romance about ballroom dancing. Although he and Craig Pearce wrote this script, they were intent on keeping Shakespeare's lines. Hence, we have a lot of ``thees'' and ``thous'' left, and even a bit of the poetry, when you can hear it above the gunfire.
The initial altercation takes place at a self-service gasoline station. At the ball, Mercutio, as a high-heeled drag queen, sings ``To Thine Own Self Be True'' (but isn't that from the wrong Shakespearean play?). John Leguizamo, introduced as the ``prince of cats'' as Tybalt, takes his role seriously, scowling at all times. Paris, Juliet's approved suitor, is now Dave Paris, who is featured on the cover of Time magazine as the ``Bachelor of the Year'' and is played by Paul Rudd (Alicia Silverstone's step-brother in ``Clueless'').
The casting of Romeo and Juliet could not be more obvious, given the present list of possibilities. Leonardo DiCaprio, an Oscar nominee for ``What's Eating Gilbert Grape,'' and Claire Danes, a Golden Globe winner for the now-defunct TV series ``My So-Called Life,'' are the more critically recognized of the current teen crop. He fares better with the Shakespearean lines. She seems saddled with the director's insistence that Juliet should now be a politically correct strong type who initiates things. Together, they bring an irresistible sweetness to the proceedings that is altogether a joy to watch. Passion it ain't, but sweet it is.
But what would ``R and J'' be without stodgy adults to interfere? Diane Venora as mommy Gloria Capulet is a faded Southern belle who hangs out with young studs. Her husband, Fulgencio Capulet, is a stuffy type played by Paul Sorvino, last seen as the weeping-but-proud father at the Oscars. Father Laurence, the old fool who messed things up, is played by Pete Postlethwaite (Oscar nominee for ``In the Name of the Father''). He has a crucifix tattooed on his back.
In fact, crucifixes are everywhere. The designer's obsession with things religious extends to neon crosses and candles galore.
Of course, using ``Romeo and Juliet'' in a modern gang war setting is nothing new. The musical ``West Side Story'' did it back in the '50s (with a new production arriving at Chrysler Hall soon). The only daring departure from script is in having Romeo still alive as Juliet speaks her last to him.
This ``Romeo and Juliet'' will do no harm and, by attracting youthful audiences, it might even do some good in the name of literacy.
Hormones, yet again, rule. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by 20TH CENTURY FOX
Claire Danes is Juliet and Leonardo DiCaprio is Romeo in the latest
film version of Shakespeare's classic love story.
Graphic
MOVIE REVIEW
``William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet''
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, Brian Dennehy, John
Leguizamo, Pete Postlethwaite, Paul Sorvino, Diane Venora, Harold
Perrineau, Paul Rudd
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Screenplay: Craig Pearce and Baz Luhrmann
Music: Nellee Hooper
MPAA rating: PG-13 (simulated violence, no nudity, no sex)
Mal's rating: three stars by CNB