“Romeo and Juliet” leaves Shakespeare turning in his grave
November 22, 2013
A classic story, poorly executed. The latest version of “Romeo and Juliet,” directed by Carlo Carlei, does no justice to Shakespeare’s classic play.
Overacting and poor casting choices result in this movie’s falling short in the eyes of critics.
While Romeo, played by Douglas Booth, is the perfect actor for this part, his co-star, Hailee Steinfeld (Juliet), fails to intrigue the audience. An unconvincing performance by this innocent looking actress detracts from the believability of the relationship between Romeo and Juliet.
While the chemistry between the characters is for the most part believable, Steinfeld’s interaction with her father, played by Damian Lewis, is unconvincing.
Another poor casting choice was that of Friar Laurence, played by Paul Giamatti. Known for portraying less serious characters, his presence was distracting from the solemnity of the film.
Despite several poor casting choices, a positive one was that of Tybalt, played by Ed Westwick. Ferocity comes easily to Westwick, making him a perfect Tybalt, who spends the majority of the film enraged and volatile.
Another negative point of the “Romeo and Juliet” is the excessive physical affection shown between Romeo and Juliet. The viewers are aware of the obvious attraction between the two star-crossed lovers, and their constant kissing throughout the film is excessive and unnecessary.
The music throughout the movie is one of the more positive aspects. The soundtrack was applied at critical points without distracting from the content of the film, adding to the tone of the scenes.
Though a few positive aspects shone throughout the movie, the good did not outweigh the bad. Overall, the new version of “Romeo and Juliet” does not do justice to this timeless play.