Directed by Abel Ferrara • 1987 • United States Starring James Russo, Richard Panebianco, Sari Chang
Auteur of sin and sleaze Abel Ferrara brings his inimitable brand of pulp poetry to this gritty, synth- and neon-drenched take on ROMEO AND JULIET (by way of WEST SIDE STORY), which transplants the timeless tale to the mean streets of lower Manhattan where the budding romance between teenagers lovers Tony (Richard Panebianco) and Tye (Sari Chang)—he’s from Little Italy, she’s from neighboring Chinatown—threatens to unleash tensions between their older brothers’ rival gangs. Ferrara’s eye for stylized action lends this alternately tough and tender exploitation melodrama a propulsive pop punch.
Up Next in Pop Shakespeare
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Tempest
Directed by Paul Mazursky • 1982 • United States
Starring John Cassavetes, Gena Rowlands, Susan SarandonPaul Mazursky updates the Bard in this loose, modern-day interpretation of Shakespeare’s THE TEMPEST. After he discovers that his wife (Gena Rowlands) is having an affair, New York architect ...
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Love’s Labour’s Lost
Directed by Kenneth Branagh • 2000 • United Kingdom
Starring Kenneth Branagh, Alessandro Nivola, Adrian Lester, Matthew Lillard, Alicia SilverstoneA Y2K-era adaptation of Shakespeare’s sixteenth-century romantic comedy done in the style of a classic 1930s musical? Celebrated Shakespearean Sir K...
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Much Ado About Nothing
Directed by Joss Whedon • 2012 • United States Starring Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion
Joss Whedon brings a feisty screwball energy to this sly and sexy modern update of Shakespeare’s cla...
