- Category: Entertainment , Literature
- Topic: Movies
Baz Luhrmann's film style has gained worldwide recognition for its extravagance. He is known for his use of vibrant colors, nimble camera movements, daring costumes, and creative editing techniques that highlight the underlying themes and motifs of his films. However, Baz Luhrmann is not immune to criticism, as some argue that he deviates from the original source material in his adaptations.
In both Romeo and Juliet and The Great Gatsby, Baz Luhrmann uses a specific storytelling style to engage the audience throughout the film. He employs various cinematic techniques, such as editing choices, lighting, camera shots, camera angles, symbols, music, and actor choices to captivate his audience. Additionally, both films use prologues to provide the audience with the necessary background information to understand the rest of the story.
In The Great Gatsby, Baz Luhrmann accurately depicts the symbolism of the novel. For instance, he uses the color white to represent innocence in a scene featuring Jordan Baker and Daisy Buchanan, dressed in white, with white curtains in the background. Moreover, the green light at the end of Daisy's dock symbolizes Gatsby's elusive dream.
To create tension, Baz Luhrmann uses lighting in both films. In The Great Gatsby, industrial lighting is dark and murky, indicating the moral corruption of the area. On the other hand, lighting is used to generate direct tension in Romeo and Juliet. When Mercuito dies, the weather turns stormy, reflecting the tumultuous emotions of the characters.
In The Great Gatsby, Baz Luhrmann uses a variety of cinematic techniques to engage his audience. For example, the use of close-ups, half-shots, and low-angle cinematics allows viewers to connect with the protagonist on a deeper level. In contrast, in Romeo and Juliet, Baz Luhrmann employs techniques such as camerawork, looks, and props to convey the idea of a higher power that creates the immutable destinies of Romeo and Juliet.
Baz Luhrmann's music choices in The Great Gatsby comprise a mix of various genres, such as hip hop, alternative, and more, to immerse the audience more deeply into the story. He also chose contemporary music to remind modern audiences of the extravagance of Gatsby's parties. Jay Z's soundtrack for the movie represents a 21st-century Gatsby; a man with a dark past who became a millionaire, ruling the music industry like a cash-stealing giant.
In summary, Baz Luhrmann uses a range of cinematic techniques, such as lighting, music, and symbolism, to create engaging films that captivate modern audiences. Despite criticism for not sticking to the original source material, his unique style remains an iconic aspect of his films.
Baz Luhrmann is a unique director who stands out from his modern counterparts. His films, such as The Great Gatsby, feature intricate romantic subplots, lightning-fast editing, and furiously paced cinematography and storylines. Though his signature style has been polarizing amongst both audiences and critics, it has remained consistent for almost thirty years since his debut feature film.
In Romeo and Juliet, Luhrmann made significant changes to Shakespeare's original story. He relocated monologues, trimmed and cropped certain parts of the text, and made frantic edits. Additionally, he altered the vibrancy of colors to transmit a vivid and striking atmosphere to the MTV generation.
Throughout both Romeo and Juliet and The Great Gatsby, Luhrmann maintains a particular storytelling style to captivate his audience. His choices in edits, lighting, camerawork, music, and actors all contribute to the power of his style. Moreover, Romeo and Juliet and The Great Gatsby share comparable endings, which reflects Luhrmann's vision and commitment to his specific approach to filmmaking.