Review #2 | "Romeo and Juliet" (2014)

"The most dangerous love story ever told" was not all that dangerous after all. Although the concept of this production of "Romeo and Juliet" isn't all that dark, the plot expectation which accompanies this specific material merits a slightly higher level of maturity than a conceptual teen-flick movie. Rather than focus on the material, the film establishes whimsical and stunning shots throughout the film: almost like a fairytale, but...not.

Performances by Hailee Steinfeld and Douglas Booth were heart-wrenching and captivating, even if it was difficult at times to even hear the Old English of William Shakespeare spewing from their lips. The fact that R&J are believably, desperately in love with each other may remedy this blunder for some viewers, as will the fact that the second half of the film is, for the most part, easily heard and understood.

Performances by the cast were well executed, save perhaps those of Kodi Smitt-McPhee (Benvolio) and Simone Grancagnolo (Novice). Their performances were sub-par due to awkward line delivery, most likely from intimidation and/or ignorance of the language. "Gossip Girl's" own Chuck Bass, a.k.a Ed Westwick (Tybalt), almost fell into "Dicaprio-ism," yet managed to create a Tybalt which I found believably volatile. Perhaps Westwick drew from the angst of Mr. Bass to prepare for this role, adding the appropriate stakes that Shakespeare's plays demand.

Combat in Verona looks terribly choreographed no matter how many pretty stone surfaces you place in the shot. Perhaps the movement could have been enhanced with some clever cinematography and editing tricks. Either way, the vision of Chuck Bass in lace-up leather pants is enough distraction whatever the case.

It is easy to forget that this screenplay came from Julian Fellowes ("Downton Abbey," "Summer In February") save one beautiful sequence which details what-could-have-been in the lives of R&J. The sequence dares the audience to hope for a different outcome as the last act unfolds, who are inevitably rendered devastated with hauntingly biblical imagery.

Unless you are a Shakespeare fan with a personal responsibility to follow his works, you could probably skip this film. However, this film is still thought provoking for a filmmaker's mind and could be used for select performance and technical references.

Shakespeare fans will be interested to note that Lady Montague does survive this production as well as utter one line.

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"Romeo and Juliet" is rated PG-13.