Baz Luhrman is an innovative director with a flamboyant directing style which makes it clear to the audience that he it is not about naturalism, he is creating a piece of art with which he can form a connection to the audience. In order to get this connection Luhrman has re-imagined classical stories by giving acknowledgment to origin but by using his own cinematic philosophy and post-modern filming techniques and has managed to produce the same atmosphere that the original authors intended for that day’s audience. Through analysis of “Strictly Ballroom” (1992), “Romeo and Juliet” (1996) and “The Great Gatsby” (2013 ), one can see Luhrmann’s evolution as a director.
Luhrmann makes his films his own from the start, as opening scenes of all three of these films implement post-modern techniques instantly informing the audience that they are about to enter into Luhrmann’s hyper-real, visually intoxicating world. Strictly ballroom uses a documentary type format to introduce its interpretation of the vibrant world of ballroom dancing where everything appears overdone on the surface but is actually conservative below. As with all his films, Luhrman is making commentary on the society in which the film takes place.
Drama runs rampant from the beginning, with Scotts mother Shirley wondering if she failed, as
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The reason for these obvious changes is because Luhrmann chooses to appeal to a modern day audience rather than repeat the same old setting that would have appealed to the people at the time the original forms were written. Changes in Romeo and Juliet can be seen from the modern city Verona which is packed with overwhelming sounds, bright colour, guns and cars rather than swords and horses to the costumes and makeup which show modern contrasting the dull and bland settings associated with Shakespeare’s olden day