William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
1996
**½
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Cast: Leonardo Di Caprio, Claire Danes, John Leguizamo, Paul Sorvino
Baz Luhrmann's anarchistic update of Shakespeare's best known play might have worked, had he bothered to bring its values and attitudes to the 20th century, as well. As it stands, the film seems gritty and phony. The old English dialogue is difficult enough to follow on page, but when it's shouted out by an American cast, it's pretty much incomprehensible.
