Baz Luhrmann’s turbulent, tonally jarring masterpiece Romeo + Juliet, which may be the most divisive Shakespeare adaptation still, turns 30.
It’s the 30th anniversary of Baz Luhrmann’s turbulent, tonally jarring masterpiece Romeo + Juliet (1996), which may be the most divisive Shakespeare adaptation still. I’m usually reluctant to call movies experiences, but this film’s cinematic form is so visceral and disorienting — especially on the big screen — that it genuinely feels as if the movie happens to you. And that’s why it continues to endure in the cultural zeitgeist, standing out among a plethora of literary adaptations and reimaginings.
I’ve always been drawn to writing first when it comes to film. My favorite movies are often dialogue-heavy, featuring long takes and a relatively narrow scope. I’m naturally inclined to pay the most attention to how the language functions, and in the past, I didn’t always give enough consideration to technical aspects — like editing and cinematography — that shape a film’s visual form. That’s not to say I thought form had no effect on me; rather, I overlooked it precisely because of how technically proficient filmmakers can be at making sequences appear seamless.
Having watched a lot of Old Hollywood movies, I was most familiar with an invisible editing style. But my tastes gradually broadened, as they tend to when you appreciate an art form enough to take a chance on something outside of your usual habits. I largely attribute my growing appreciation for cinematic form to Romeo + Juliet, if only because its editing, camera work, and production design are so gloriously in-your-face and downright insane. Because the dialogue mainly remains faithful to Shakespeare’s original language, I find myself less focused on the words themselves. I’ve read and studied the play before, so I’m already familiar with what the characters are going to say and when. This familiarity allows for the film’s form to take center stage, and it certainly does, amplifying an already melodramatic play in both hilarious and tragic ways. The Nurse’s high-speed, tornado-like running around as she frantically calls for Juliet pushes an already comedic character to cartoonish extremes. Meanwhile, the cut to a wide shot while Romeo cries out for Juliet after learning of her “death” pulls us out of this emotional and all-consuming moment, reminding us how small and insignificant he and his problems are in the great vastness of the world.
The performances in this film are fantastic across the board, particularly those by the young leads, Leonardo DiCaprio (Inception) and Claire Danes. But the real standout is Harold Perrineau’s Mercutio, whom many consider the best cinematic interpretation of the character. His death might just be the most heartbreaking one, precisely because of how vivacious, fun-loving, and fiercely loyal he is. And, of course, we can’t forget the show-stealing, drug-induced musical number. That sequence leads right into another of my favorite moments, albeit a much quieter one: Romeo and Juliet’s first meeting. I mean, I can’t even look at a fish tank without hearing Des’ree’s "Kissing You" playing in my head. It’s just that iconic.
The direction, playfulness, and characters’ interactions with their surroundings are especially effective in these early romantic moments. The kiss in the elevator and the two of them falling into the pool together perfectly capture the intensity and intimacy of being young, dumb, and in love. It might sound like an overstatement to suggest that this movie elevated the work of the greatest playwrights of all time, but I genuinely think it changed the way many people, particularly young audiences, viewed Shakespeare’s text. It took a play that students might otherwise have moaned and groaned about reading in English class and transformed it into something vibrant and exciting, firmly embedding it into contemporary pop culture.
Some criticize the film for turning a literary classic into teenybopper fodder. But I think this approach complements the original work remarkably well. The film’s form reveals just how silly and fleeting the romance can be, how the impulsive actions of foolish people can have lasting, devastating consequences, all while taking the characters and their feelings completely seriously. It’s within these contradictions that Romeo and Juliet is at its best and most moving. Two things can be true at once: Romeo and Juliet are simple teenagers blinded by love and infatuation, and their feelings are nonetheless real and important. They deserve to be celebrated in flamboyant ‘90s style, while still serving (and I mean SERVING) as a tragic warning to others.
Romeo + Juliet is available to rent across streaming platforms in the U.S. and Canada.
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