Romeo & Juliet (2013)
Certified: PG
Duration: 118 minutes
Directed by: Carlo Carlei
Starring: Hailee Steinfeld; Douglas Booth; Damian Lewis; Paul Giamatti; Kodi Smit-McPhee; Ed Westwick; Lesley Manville; Christian Cooke; Stellan Skarsgård; Natascha McElhone; Tom Wisdom; Leon Vitali; Laura Morante
KRS release
William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is one of his most recognisable plays and has been adapted for the big screen many times. Cinema history was made with the bringing together of such couples as Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard (1936), Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey (1968) and Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes (1996).
One must also not forget Richard Beymer and Natalie Wood in West Side Story (1961) which was based on the Bard’s play.
This time around, Romeo and Juliet is adapted to the screen from a script by Julian Fellowes, who had penned Gosford Park (2001) and entranced many a viewer with the series Downton Abbey.
The story, which is as old as time but still relevant to this day, brings together Hailee Steinfeld and Douglas Booth in titular roles. Steinfeld is still fresh from her success in True Grit (2010) for which she received an Oscar nomination. With her on board, as quite a young Juliet, the film veers more towards a youthful audience. She is one of the reasons why the movie works, as she makes for a very picture-perfect lovelorn cinema icon.
A truthful and faithful adaptation and ode to Shakespeare’s tome
The coupling is a match made in heaven for modern times as Booth looks and feels like a modern troubadour; he is a Romeo who seems to fill well the costume finery he wears. The fact that the couple looks so young gives the idea of youthful love, and this naïve approach gives the film an added sense of veneer.
The film is set in 16th century Verona, where Romeo falls in love with Juliet who, however, belongs to a family with whom Romeo’s family have long been in a feud with. The two love each other and try to start a life together, however, fate and their families have other things to say about this. I will not go into the details as this tale is familiar, yet still popular. Having said this, Fellowes’s script is more accessible to its intended audience as this is an updated Romeo and Juliet.
Under Carlo Carlei’s direction, the emphasis is not on style but rather on presenting class and atmosphere, which he does through the excellent locations he chose and the camera angles.
The luscious, Renaissance-era costumes help the film in no small way, and the cast, especially the teens, seem to be having a whale of a time dressed up for the ball. This is all about elegance and colour and the medling of the two.
Natasha McElhone as Lady Capulet graces the screen wonderfully, while Paul Giamatti is as usual excellent as the Friar. The latter is simply spot on as he restrains himself in going over the top. Meanwhile, Damian Lewis will have Homeland fans swooning.
Overall, the film delivers a familiar setting and story which is nuanced just enough to make it a truthful and faithful adaptation and ode to Shakespeare’s tome.
This is all about true love with all the tears one can muster; and it sure does look good here. If the film manages to lure its intended audience towards the other works of he Bard, then it deserves even more plaudits.