question : how the hell do u make Shakespeare's tale of tragic love appeal to modern audiences ? answer : secure Hollywood's hottest young actor and actress in the leads , relocate it to a modern beach community .. a world of tiny bikinis and rippling six packs and float that tricky dialogue on a wave of guns , cars and gangs . The incredible thing is that it works . for those who have never got beyond the layer of dust on their complete works of shakespeare , the story springs out of a familal rivalry between the montagues and the capulets .this competitiveness manifest itself in two forms : the parents do battle in the arena of business while the teenagers scrap it out on the streets . then the unthinkable happens . the families' youngest and fairest , romeo (DiCaprio) and juliet (Danes) , fall in love .rather than unite the clans , their passion rubs salt in the wounds . both dynasties believe their respective sprogs deserve better , and before u can even say " do u bite your thumb at me , sir ? " , the knives are out and the guns are polished . dicaprio..his weighty performance defies his slender frame , and he fills the quiter moments with sheer presence . be it smoking a fag or lurking under young women's balconies , he demands the camera's gaze and the audience's respect . and he's every bit as cool as the film is hot . kEf_CoDa ratings : * * * * / 5 Disclaimer: This person was not under the influence of alcohol while writing this.
Originally posted to riotgrrls@coollist.com on April 21, 1997
