Plot: What’s it about?
I think well all know this story inside and out, but for the sake of this review, I’ll provide a quick take on Romeo + Juliet’s storyline. The families of the Montagues and Capulets are both powerhouses in terms of wealth, power, and influence, but there is a severe rift between them, one that it seems can never be mended. The heads of each side don’t wish to come into unneeded conflict, but would be willing to fight back, if the other side made it a necessary gesture. Romeo (Leo DeCaprio) is the son of the head of the Montague estate and while he has a good life, he longs for something more, to be sure. He is popular, has a lot of friends, and is good with the ladies, but he wants a more substantial love, perhaps an impossible one. Enter Juliet (Claire Danes), the Capulet’s young daughter who also tires of her lifestyle, wishing to engage in more exciting, perhaps even dangerous adventures. Although there is a massive risk involved, the two wind up meeting, falling in love, and deciding to take the next step into marriage. But has fate really smiled upon these star crossed lovers, or does a darker future await them?
This modern take on the timeless romance might not have award level performances, but it has some amazing visuals, to be sure. The cast is a solid one, headed by Leo DeCaprio, Claire Danes, and John Leguizamo, as well as numerous other famous faces, but the acting remains average on the whole, save a few sparked moments. Even so, this Baz Luhrmann helmed film remains enjoyable, thanks to the incredible visuals, excellent production design, and just the entire approach taken in regard to style. You can look at costumes, photography, makeup, and all points in between and find minimal faults, as Luhrmann and his crew have crafted a stunning, always beautiful take on Shakespeare’s time tale of doomed love. The use of color is off the charts and hands down, Romeo + Juliet is one of the most visually potent films out there, but does that make it a good movie? I think this is a prime example of style over substance, as once you look beyond the visuals, you’re left with an average overall film. The performances are often lackluster, the writing is mediocre, and the film fails to capture the true essence of the material. But when you watch the film, the visuals pull your attention away from those flaws, of course. I still think Romeo + Juliet is a fun movie that’s worth a look, but don’t expect much beyond flash & style.
I had high hopes for the performances of Claire Danes here, as I liked her work on My So Called Life and thought she was a solid choice. She might not be the typical beauty, but her looks have dazzled audiences and I think she really comes off well here, especially in certain scenes where she plays the role to the complete hilt. I think she manages to turn in the finest effort in Romeo + Juliet, but she still falls short of my expectations, though it isn’t all her own fault. Her fellow cast members are either miscast in their roles and not working to their potential, which means as good as she is, they often dull the shine of her efforts. But in the end, her charm and stunning good looks are more than enough to compensate and she has the spotlight in this one. Other films with Danes include Little Women, Brokedown Palace, The Mod Squad, and The Rainmaker. The cast also includes Leo DeCaprio (Titanic, The Beach), John Leguizamo (The Pest, Summer of Sam), and Brian Dennehy (Tommy Boy, A Season on the Brink).
Video: How does it look?
Romeo + Juliet is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This new treatment clears up some of the flaws in Fox’s previous attempt, including a much better handling of the film’s color scheme. The hues here look vivid and almost too rich, which was the intention and as such, should please fans of the picture. I think some will assume they’re too rich, but that isn’t the case, as this is just how the hues were supposed to come off. I found the contrast to be refined & well balanced, while the print was still a little worn at times, though no more than in any prior home video edition. In the end, this is an improved visual effort and even with some flaws, followers of the movie should be very pleased with this treatment.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc houses a Dolby Digital 5.1 track that packs a real punch, a very good option that will push your system more than a little. The mix is aggressive and uses the speakers with intense motives, so the surrounds are active often and the bass even gets some moments to shine, which it takes full advantage of. This might not stack up against some of the reference level tracks out there, but it is a more than solid overall presentation. I never had a problem with the dialogue, nor was I ever let down by the audio presence on the whole, so no real complaints here. This disc also contains 2.0 surround options in English and French, as well as English and Spanish subtitles, in case you’ll need those at some point.
Supplements: What are the extras?
A new audio commentary track is found here, which features director Baz Luhrmann, cinematographer Don McAlpine, costume designer Catherine Martin, and screenwriter Craig Pearce. This turns out to be a brisk, but informative session that follows the traditions of Luhrmann commentaries, to be sure. It has a tone of a little too much patting themselves on the backs, but remains informative and tolerable. A number of featurettes have been included, which are divided into two sections, a Director’s Gallery and a Cinematographer’s Gallery, both worth a visit. I found all of these brief behind the scenes peeks to be too brief, but if you combine all the information from them all, you have a nice selection of behind the scenes material. I would have liked more focus on the technical side, but I was still pleased with these featurettes, even as short as they were. This disc also houses a selection of production stills (with narration from Catherine Martin), two music videos, a collection of cast & crew interviews, poster artwork, two television spots, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
