This film should be required viewing for every high school sophomore as a vehicle for understanding the arcane language of Shakespeare which prevents most students from learning the lessons that the bard proposes to all of us.
Set in modern-day Verona, the film has updated the scenery and the clothing of the cast members while retaining the beautiful flow of language that was indigenous to the late 16th century. With that background, the meaning behind the spoken word is far more understandable to the viewer than when he must imagine the setting as well as the inflection of words on the written page.
Leonardo DiCaprio has come a long way in his film career. We see glimmers of his extensive talent when he was a mere 22 years old at the time of the making of this classic.
This modern-day Romeo is aided in the production by a beautiful nubile Juliet played by Claire Danes. The two actors work very well with each other, enhancing the reality of the plot. I did not at first recognize Paul Rudd who played Paris, Juliet’s father’s preference as her espoused. Paul Rudd has aged well and seems to be in great demand today in a variety of dramatic and comedic roles. The versatile John Leguizamo is the perfect foil to Romeo in his role as Tybalt, who is Juliet’s cousin and Romeo’s nemesis.
Hearing the words of Romeo and Juliet, especially in the balcony scenes, sheds new light on the love they have for each other. Of course, Shakespeare never visualized his protagonists falling in a swimming pool and kissing under water. Today’s audience can appreciate the action which many young people may have experienced or at least dreamed of happening.
It takes a clever actor to mouth words which heretofore had no real meaning to him and translate them into meaningful sentences which the average viewer can understand. Leonardo DiCaprio was able to make that transition which allows the audience to get it.
Hollywood would do well to give us a modern version of additional Shakespearean plays. Our young people would benefit from this effort by familiarizing themselves with the great poets and philosophers of past centuries. English teachers would welcome their efforts in giving these classics new life.
