Good try, good scenes and atmosphere, but too much was cut, some of the most beautiful words ever written, this was way too short.
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Bill-4122 May 2021
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erinkelley-7935010 May 2021This adaptation is extremely well-acted & directed, aside from the fact that way too much of the original drama is taken out. Consequently, some of the most beautiful words are lost & it's hard to invest in the characters because the plot moves too quickly. Tasman Greig as Lady Capulet is outstanding, & I also enjoyed how she took on the role as Lord Capulet as well.
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Romeo And Juliet (2021) -
I was greatly surprised by this version of the classic Shakespeare play. So many times I have recorded theatrical and cultural performances from the SkyArts channel only to find that the representations or interpretations are done badly or the lead ballet dancer isn't wearing tight enough trousers that show off his amazing thighs, but this National Theatre Live production was a real find. An absolute gem.
It is very cleverly edited and produced with a superb cast and it truly proves that theatre is blind. You would never know that some of the actors with varying accents or origins would not traditionally play their parts, unless you were looking for it or course.
Josh O'Connor gives a fantastic and seductive performance as Romeo. Although not what some would call traditionally handsome, he has a great earnestness about him and his characters always wear their hearts on their sleeves with such ease. Romeo is no exception and he really leads the whole story and production for me. When others were performing I wanted to know what his character was up to and not just because he is so sexy.
And for the most part Jesse Buckley as Juliet is good too, but I didn't feel enraptured by her as I was with Josh and her character drifts off at times.
They work alongside a cast who all excel in their own roles too. Tamsin Greig gives a particularly aggressive and nasty Lady Capulet. There is a darkness to her performance that almost makes me believe that it isn't much of an act. Perhaps she should be careful not to become too typecast as these witchy sorts. I cannot see Imelda Staunton without thinking of Harry Potter's evil Professor Umbridge and it is very difficult to separate Lena Headey from her 'Game Of Thrones' (2011-19) character Cersei Lannister. Maybe they are all just good at what they do, but I wouldn't want to meet any of them down a dark alley, until I got to know them for sure.
The abandoned theatre setting is superb and utilised in such a brilliant way, as the production values grow throughout. I also appreciate the lighting and the colours of the costumes used to appropriately represent the moods and changing environments/occasions. The soundtrack is sympathetic and well chosen too.
There are a few moments that I don't recall from the original story, although it has been a while since actually reading it and most of my recollection comes from Leonardo DiCaprio in Baz Luhrman's version or the cartoon 'Gnomeo & Juliet', but I believe that great theatre is and should be open to interpretation. 'The Mouse Trap' wouldn't still be so celebrated if people weren't asked to conceal "Whodunnit" before leaving their seats after all and some of the best Gilbert & Sullivan productions that I have seen have been an all male cast. I like it when boundaries are pushed.
I will definitely recommend this to my friends, especially those with a taste for culture.
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joelapplegate524 April 2021The shots in this film embrace not just the essence of a sacred space in the theater but take advantage of the best technology can contribute to intimacy. I couldn't take my eyes off this production for a single moment. It is amazing visually and exceptionally acted by those in every role. Trim and confident in its execution, this production will remain noted and inspirational in many futures to come.
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vk-rocks24 April 2021This is a distilled version of the R&J productions we are used to seeing. The raw acting leaves it to be pure in its essence of Shakespeare's work. Amazing! Bravo!
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Gordon-1121 December 2021It is interesting to watch a version of Romeo and Juliet that is modern and not on a set. I think the film is different, and it's intriguing. I think the leads are good, and I like the diversity of actors.
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juwedy1 May 2021A great and stylish modern adaptation of Romeo and Juliet accompanied by "great performances" by Josh O'Connor and Jessie Buckley as the eponymous lovers, particularly Buckley. Stunning visuals and music will make this shot-in-pandemic modern adaptation of R&J even more delightful.
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cassieeM5 September 2021Not entirely a movie, not entirely a stage play, a great mix of both, which gives this version of Romeo and Juliet such uniqueness and freshness. Considering, that the play takes place in the modern world, the characters age shift works perfectly fine. The language is still poetic and old-fashioned, but everything looks natural and alive. Especially I liked the close-ups shots, that makes viewer more involved, as we ourselves are not a distant bystander, but participant of the events. Jessie Buckley and Josh O'Connor give outstanding performances, although these characters were played by many many other actors, they succeed to make their Romeo and Juliet relationship special and memorable. I loved the diversity of the cast and a brief lgbtq+ representation, both of which fully meets modern realities. If you watch it with open heart and mind you will 100% enjoy it. Art is eternal because of the many ways it can be interpreted and remain actual even after a five hundred years. I highly recommend this piece to everyone, who loves Shakespeare, theatre and not afraid of experimentations and interpretations of classics.
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Gorgeous, beautiful, heartbreaking. R & J distilled down to a tight, lean story and yet I feel I missed out on nothing (and I've been in this play twice). Romeo & Juliet look like ordinary people not epitomes of beauty, Mercutio & Benvolio are in love, and Lady Capulet runs her household. Brilliant.
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It's the first time I actually review a film, and I do so in order to properly celebrate the unprecedented joy and sense of wonder I felt throughout the whole performance.
Keeping this review very short, especially considering @cassieeM's take that I fully subscribe to, I'd like to add this personal perspective:
For the past few months, I've been slowly savoring some excerpts of different masterpieces written by some of the most outstanding minds celebrated with the Nobel Prize. As someone whom was never really encouraged to explore the richness that literature brings to life, I can adamantly confirm I've never been this happy, that is, I truly found a new purpose in life.
I came across this version of one of the most cherished stories of all time right when I wanted to delve deeper into Shakespeare's work. Throughout the whole play, I could feel my soul reverberating with every word and gesture to the point I started crying, like this ancient story was my own.
I want to sincerely thank everyone involved for this opportunity. Now... on the next one! -
SDSurfDude1 May 2021The stars are fantastic. The photography and direction is like a 14 year old kids bad YouTube video. Every scene shot close up, is not dramatic. The continuous close up movement becomes nauseating. A complete waste of the stage. This director and cinematographer may never have attended a stage production. You need to move back and see the actors complete use of the surroundings and stage.
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pecosrob27 November 2021When I heard Jessie Buckley was in Romeo and Juliet I thought maybe she was playing the Nurse or perhaps Lady Capulet. But no, She's cast as the young(?) lover Juliet. I don't think it is possible to improve on Zeffirelli's version as shown in the Luhrmann attempt. Going modern was no excuse to cast Juliet at twice her age. I abandoned watching at that point.
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KatherineJoanna27 February 2022It's like somebody decided to film and release an early rehearsal. The leading lady is meant to be a naive young girl, I expected at any moment a lewd wink and lascivious, bawdy comments and she seemed altogether more of a Mrs Robinson character than Juliet.