An Analysis of Baz Luhrmanns Rome and Juliet Film - Essay Example

? An Analysis of Baz Luhrmann’s Rome and Juliet Film Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous works of world renowned playwright William Shakespeare. This play was written during the early mid 1590s in England, and was published in 1597 and was part of the renaissance period of literature. Romeo and Juliet is a tragic drama revolving on a romantic love story between Romeo and Juliet. The story is set in the Italian cities of Verona and Mantua. Unlike many of Shakespeare’s other works, this is not based from the life of Shakespeare but was inspired from an English narrative poem written by Arthur Brooke (“Romeo and Juliet”). Conflict arises when the two characters fall madly in love with each other before knowing about their families’ long lived dispute. The two fights for their love and finds ways to be together despite all odds. The story ends in a tragic note when a misunderstanding of their plan of escape led to Romeo’s suicide, which then led to Juliet taking her own life too. Romeo and Juliet is said to be “a timeless love story that's been done again and again” (Jernigan). It is commonly presented in local and international theaters either as a traditional live performance or on the silver screen. Famous movie versions of the text include George Cukor’s version in 1936, Franco Zeffirelli’s version in 1968, and the most recent version was Baz Luhrmann’ version in 1996 starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes (Luhrmann). Shakespeare’s language is used in Luhrmann’s filmed version in an interesting, trendy, contemporary setting. The film features a composition of romance, action, violence, and music, executing a strong 90’s vibe.  Principles of design are concepts used to organize elements that make up a composition. It affects the expression of text content and the process of message communication (Jirousek). It is essential in film production and is interestingly applied in Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet. Principles of design include balance, proportion, rhythm, emphasis and unity. The opening scene of the movie shows a vintage television news broadcast of a lady saying the famous lines; “Two households both alike in dignity in fair Verona where we lay our …”. This is the text’s prologue made into the movie introduction. These lines are repeatedly shown while an introduction of supporting characters and antagonists is being made. This design mechanism falls under the concept of emphasis, which is defined as a compositional device made to draw attention to specific details, because that area is meant to be seen. Emphasis can also be considered a way of delivering of a text’s focal point (Moore). In the aforementioned prologue movie introduction scene, emphasis is made to deliver the message on how heavy the conflict is between Capulet and Montague. The repeated lines not only tell the story of the wrath between the families, but screenshots of the church, war, violence and chaos over the city tells how the wrath between the families affect the societies their living in. Moreover, big establishments, random sign boards, religious images and other related icons suggest the living age of where the story is set. These elements also reflect the current culture of the setting displayed, i.e. for example, the constant flashing of religious monuments, the crucifix inside the Montague’s limousine and the Tybalt of Capulet’s shirt all suggest the religious underlying context in the film, despite all the violence happening between the two parties. This could also be seen as the director’s way of inflicting the original setting of which the text was made. A further discussion of this will be made in the latter part of this paper. In the opening scene, the rhythm of the whole movie is also presented. Moore describes rhythm as a principle of design which tackles a repetition of recurrent themes, like simply painting a pattern in which a beat is designed for a certain flow of storytelling to be achieved. The rhythm of the director’s attack is expressed with fast flashes of establishing shots, repeated or strongly delivered lines and elements that surprise the audience, in tune with a message set to be a focal point. For example, the introduction of Romeo’s character is made after a high- powered action scene between the two parties in dispute. The setting is suddenly made into a melancholic beach side area with an unfinished arc being built, and there sits Romeo who contemplates about how love could do so much more than what hate could. With this change of rhythm, Romeo is highlighted to be a character different from his fellow Montagues, because of his being a romantic and peace- searching individual. Rhythm as a design principle succeeded in building Romeo’s character. In addition to this, it is also evident that music and soundtrack greatly contribute in the setting of film rhythm. The fast or slow background music suggests rhythm because of its very tone, and his highly contributory in mood setting. Luhrmann’s version is considered contemporary and modernized with an upbeat and ecstatic attack and play on rhythm. As for other live performances and film versions of Romeo and Juliet, there is huge difference in the way beat was delivered to achieve good rhythm in the story. This will be discussed in the latter part of this paper, in relation to historical influences to be considered in achieving rhythm. The change of rhythm in scene shots and background soundtracks from extremely violent and crazy to mellow and dramatic also depicts how proportion exists in the movie. Proportion is defined relative to size measured against other elements (Moore). Proportion is the relationship between objects and parts of a whole necessary to discuss in terms of context or standard (Jirousek). The rhythm of change displayed in the movie suggests a proportion on the loudness and mellowness of highlighting a certain scene, in accordance to how best it would work for the scene and the message it tries to imply. For example, in the Capulet’s feast, scene shots can be described as “heavy”. A lot of elements are present starting from the Montague boys’ departure from Verona Beach going to the Sycamore Grove. The moment Romeo took the “love drug”, which got him “high”, there is a change of screen shots from a focus on Romeo’s face to that wherein he walks on the aisle of the church. Proportion in the screen shots helps in delivering that message of how the individual depicted by focus on Romeo’s face and it being led to a sudden peaceful and slow state while walking down the beautiful church aisle, means a transformation of the person’s state from normal to that of being “high”. This state is also justified by only a one to two elements present in the scene. When the “love drug” finally “hit” Romeo, fireworks entered the scene which symbolizes the explosion of that which can be considered as being in the “peak of being high”. The carnival setting, crazy party scene, slow motion, and song and dance numbers are loud elements that justify the state in which Romeo was at. At the ending of the festive scene, only Romeo’s face dipped in water is presented. This proportion of having only one element in the screen shot tells about how the individual goes back to his normal state from being “high”. With all these, it can be said that proportion plays a huge part in delivering the message of the text. On the other hand, a simpler aspect of proportion could be analyzed through casting of characters, which can also be related to a historical significance underlying in the film. This example will be discussed furthermore in the latter part of this paper. Balance is also an essential principle of design that exists in the movie. With balance, there is good distribution of visual weight and design elements within a composition (Moore). It is important to have balance for a scene to work in a movie. In Romeo and Juliet, a good example of a balanced scene shot would be that magical moment when the star crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet first laid their eyes on each other. The scene was romantic in all aspects, and balance of elements contributed greatly in the success of the delivering the message. The scene starts with Romeo “waking up” from his “love-drug-drunken” state. After the wild exchange of heavy elements present, the music was set to a slow, mellow and romantic tone. With that music, one would sense that something magical was about to happen. The huge aquarium is the most important part of why the scene worked. The fish in the aquarium were in blue and yellow, colors that are light to the eyes. There is beauty in balance of how these elements were used to enhance the scene, which gave justice to the first hand interaction of the lead characters. There are five principles of design and all aforementioned are for the essence of achieving a design unity for the totality of the composition. Luhrmann’s version Romeo and Juliet is described as contemporary, one made with elements unexpected of a Shakespearean classic. One can consider it as a challenge to achieve harmony in such a case, but Luhrmann was able to pull it off. There was a constant motif in the way focal points were emphasized in the movie. Establishing shots were used in presenting each important character in the film; there was even a use of labels. As observed, emphasis on scene change primarily starts with music change for mood setting. The overall rhythm of the film played with an upbeat, loud tempo whenever antagonists enter the scene, and always a slow, mellow tune whenever the lead characters come in. Proportion is achieved by the number of elements featured in the screen shot, in relation to the mood and message needed to be delivered. In addition to this, there is always an element of surprise in forms of symbols or icons. Overall balance is achieved in the making of the film because all elements, big or small, settled into a harmonious relationship which led to a successful portrayal of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in a modern- day setting. Principles of Design are essential in engaging the audience in the story. Throughout the film, religious images pop- out the screen in either an obvious or subtle way. These hints inflicting elements contradicting to the generally intense scenes leave the audience in question of its significance. Small elements like this keeps the audience interested on why certain elements exist. As for the religious icons, it could be the director’s way of inflicting the original setting of which the text was made since the classical Romeo and Juliet was definitely inspired and influenced by religion. During that time the most influential people mingles freely with the priests, as it entails their high position in society. Timeliness is also important in keeping audience interest. Romeo and Juliet is already considered as a time- bound work of literature. It is a piece famous all over the world. People already know about the twist in its story, so how would it still sound interesting to the viewing public? With Luhrmann’s version, the film was kept interesting by using the Shakespearean dialogue and having the story adapted in a 90’s setting. Using the Shakespearean dialogue because the beauty of its prose is one primary reason why Romeo and Juliet is so phenomenal. Making the movie in a 90s setting was the challenge and most interesting part of it. For example, the weapon used in Capulet vs. Montague opening scene brawl were guns, but in language the characters called in swords. Of course in the 90’s setting, it would be unrealistic to have an actual sword in a brawl as such so, the director came up with a gun brand “sword” and this trick of elements was even emphasized when it was focused on a close- up shot. Casting of characters also matter in keeping the audience engaged. In the film, stunning Leonardo DiCaprio and Clare Danes made a magical chemistry in their portrayal of the star-crossed lovers. Supporting actors also made excellent jobs in portraying their roles. But what would happen if for example, the actress who portrayed Juliet was more voluptuous considering that in before the 16th century, the ideal female body had large hips and big belly (Jirousek)? This aspect is related to proportion, as even actors are considered elements in a film. Most women (and men) in the film were in good shape, and only the older character such as the nurse, Ted Montague and Fulgencio Capulet had bigger statures. It could be analyzed that the mindset of what is ideal and beautiful to the eyes should be considered by filmmakers for it is a factor that engages the audience to a certain film. Romeo and Juliet is “a timeless love story that's been done again and again” (Jernigan), but it can be retold in ways that would make the current audience appreciate its beauty. Considering elements of pop- culture and also inflicting historical ideas in a film is important. In achieving these, thorough research is made by filmmakers in order for them to deliver legit information especially in communicating a classic text adaptation. Baz Luhrmann interpreted Romeo and Juliet in such a way that his audience would be able to relate because of its presentation as part of the present, at the same time he made his audience appreciate the beauty of historical and classical elements he did not dare dismiss in his version of the film. Works Cited Jernigan, Joy. “Which Romeo and Juliet Movie is the best?”. NBC Entertainment News. 6 August 2012. Web. 13 March 2013 Jirousek, Charlotte. “Principles of Design”. Art, Design, and Visual Thinking. Cornell University. 1995. Web. 13 March 2013. Moore, Christine. “Principles and Elements of Design”. Web. 13 March 2013. “Romeo and Juliet”. LitCharts. 2009. Web. 13 March 2013. “Romeo and Juliet” Dir. Baz Luhrmann. Perf. Leonardo DiCaprio, Clare Danes. 20th Century Fox. 1996. Film. Read More