I Will Never Get Tired of Baz Luhrmann’s ROMEO + JULIET

#1. Biting Thumbs and Kissing Swords

The Montague boys roll up in a yellow pickup truck with a physique package, the Capulets in what appears like a blue Monte Carlo. The Montagues are rocking unbuttoned floral-print shirts over naked chests whereas the Latino-coded Capulets put on zippered vests with Catholic iconography paired with gun holsters, slacks, and Cuban heel boots. A pink-haired Jamie Kennedy as Sampson doth bites his thumb at Vincent Laresca’s Abra, and growth, a brawl that ends in gunshots and flames commences. The crown jewel of this scene is Tybalt dropping to his knees, ripping off his jacket, and unholstering his sword (that’s actually a gun referred to as a sword) to kiss it slowly earlier than taking goal at his goal. So dramatic. 

#2. Mercutio, Meb, and Molly

You know the scene. It is likely to be the scene: Harrold Perrineau as Mercutio delivering the Queen Meb monologue, an entreaty to Romeo to deal much less in desires, neglect about truthful Rosaline, pop some molly, and hit these streets for a Capulet costume ball. He does this all in a curly white wig, heels, a mini skirt, and a bustier that may make Selena Quintanilla proud. Moments later, Perrineau delivers an enthusiastic dance quantity on a grand staircase to Kym Mazelle’s model of “Young Hearts Run Free.” Perrineau is perfection in your complete movie, however this scene takes the cake. 

Romeo and Juliet change some “Can you believe this guy?” smiles when Paul Rudd as Paris, dressed as an astronaut, does this fancy little hand flourish, like a single jazz hand whereas he type of cha-chas in place to a beat solely he can hear.

#3. A Boy, A Girl, and a Fish Tank

I have a bizarre factor with fish tanks as a result of of this film. Romeo, wearing chainmail, is making an attempt to shake off that molly by dunking his head in a rest room sink, and as he comes up for air, all dripping and teenage heartthrob-like, we hear the primary notes of Des’Ree’s “Kissing You.” Leo walks over to the enormous aquarium wall and is gazing on the fish when he sees Juliet’s eye peeking by some coral. They straighten in shock and change shy smiles, then larger smiles, then Romeo endearingly bumps his nostril in opposition to the glass as if he’s forgotten it was there. It’s a wordless scene and simply so rattling tender, capturing that younger crush feeling in these few quick moments. Have I met my soulmate at an aquarium? No. But there’s nonetheless time. 

#4. Paris Doing Jazz Hands

Right after the fish tank scene, Juliet dressed as an angel, is whisked away by her nurse at her mom’s request to affix Paris for a dance. Romeo appears on longingly whereas Juliet and Paris dance to the quiet bridge of “Kissing You.” Romeo and Juliet change some “Can you believe this guy?” smiles when Paul Rudd as Paris, dressed as an astronaut, does this fancy little hand flourish, like a single jazz hand whereas he type of cha-chas in place to a beat solely he can hear. Rudd performs Paris as such an earnest dork, and I’m right here for it. 

#5. Benvolio Tries to Be Down 

The morning after he and Juliet have declared their love in a swimming pool, Romeo meets up with Mercutio and the Montague boys on the seaside dressed within the Montague floral shirt uniform. As Benvolio, performed by Dash Mihok, goes to greet his boy, he calls out, “Rome-EY-oh!” in a approach that cracks me up each. single. time. He wished to be down soooo dangerous. 

#6. A Plague on Both Your Houses

Luhrmann nails Mercutio’s demise scene in so some ways: the brewing storm, the deserted theater, Perrineau’s good supply from “ay, ay, a scratch, a scratch” to his last condemnation of each homes. In this scene and the one which follows the place Romeo hunts Tybalt down in a automotive chase earlier than taking pictures him in entrance of that enormous Jesus statue, everyone seems to be performing their faces off. I felt Mercutio’s betrayal, Tybalt’s anger, Romeo’s white-hot rage. I nonetheless get chills each time I watch this half of the movie. 

#7. I Have Bought the Mansion of a Love But Not Possessed It 

So you recognize about my Juliet costume, however my obsession didn’t cease there. I forgot till not too long ago that I went all in on the Juliet aesthetic, accumulating a shit ton of angel collectible figurines and putting them throughout my bed room to mannequin Juliet’s room within the film. I even insisted the invites to my quinceańera be on cherub-print paper as a result of it jogged my memory of Juliet. Angel aesthetic apart, Danes’ doe-eyed, lovestruck monologue as she awaits her Romeo is so candy and blissfully ignorant of all that’s to return. She’s sitting on her mattress, knees pulled as much as her chest, smiling like a woman with marital consummation in her future. Claire is so fresh-faced and keen on this scene. Sweet summer season little one! 

#8. The Mad Dash to Lie with Thee Tonight

First, we get Leo choked by tears, defying the celebs on the information that his woman love lies within the Capulet tomb. From the second he decides he’s going to affix her there, the tune “Escape from Mantua” ratchets up the tempo (shoutout to the actual ones who purchased each variations of the soundtrack to get your complete rating). The tune begins sluggish, then builds as much as a thumpy techno beat combined with some dramatic choral sequences as Romeo leaves Mantua for Verona, dodging bullets the second he’s inside metropolis limits en route to acquire the medicine that may do him in earlier than breaking into the church the place Juliet lies. It’s such a superb, tense, is-he-gonna-make-it, and such a stark juxtaposition to what comes subsequent. 

#9. The Ugly Cry to End All Ugly Cries

By the top of this film, I am nearly at all times crying. Romeo shuts the doorways to the church, and the frenetic vitality of the previous scene is changed by an eerie, unsettling quiet. It quickly provides solution to a haunting and ominous chant as Romeo begins the lengthy stroll down the church aisle, lined with an explosion of neon crosses and large candelabras. As he approaches Juliet, strings swell and hit a fever pitch as Romeo is unmade. That final “eyes look your last” is so heartbreaking, and in case you’re something like me, you’re screaming at this level, begging Leo/Romeo to really feel the flutter of Juliet’s fingertips as she stirs. Alas, he takes the poison, and with a kiss, he dies. This is the place we get Claire Dane’s burst of an unsightly cry, one I admit to creating enjoyable of up to now. Seeing it once more not too long ago, I was struck by its sincerity, if for no different cause than as a result of I’m crying proper alongside together with her. The cry is as ugly because the circumstances. 

#10. The Soundtrack

This is dishonest as a result of it’s not one second, however it helps make many moments. This soundtrack is gold. There’s, of course, “Lovefool” by the Cardigans, and Garbage’s ode to obsessive love, “#1 Crush.” There’s “Young Hearts Run Free” and “Kissing You.” But then there’s the becoming “Local God” by Everclear when Romeo pulls as much as the seaside on some “yeah, I’m that guy” vitality. There’s the brilliant, buoyant vibe of “You and Me Song” by The Wannadies when Romeo leaves the pool and makes his giddy solution to Father Lawrence, and Quinton Tarver’s tackle Prince’s “When Doves Cry” on the finish of that very same go to. The rating is, properly, theatrical, infusing drama in a single scene and a sure sweetness in one other with out ever feeling disjointed. If you haven’t paid shut consideration to the music earlier than, go watch the film proper now. Let it occur to you. Enjoy.