R&J Beyond Words is the first ballet movie I saw. I also haven't seen this ballet on the stage and won't be able to compare it.
1. Actors play. Francesca Hayward looked essential in her role - young, naive, and delicate. Juliets feelings are understandable event there is no single line. The character is fully uncovered and understandable.
Unfortunately, all others do not bring the same feelings. I didn't get the temper, intentions, and philosophy of any other character. Random face mimics, characters appear and disappear, randomly their mood is changed without a clear reason why. Without lines, the only cinema language here would be - face mimics, body moves, and music. Neither faces nor bodies told me a story.
2. Choreography. Impressed with Francesca again. Probably if there were more solos of each main character - I would understand them better. But everything was mixed in a chaotic way + hard to follow because of really bad camera work.
3. Camera & Film editing. Dance scenes were often cut... I can see a dancer in a medium shot at the beginning and suddenly his legs are partially cut? Then I can see a close-up of the static face with no emotions while they dance? Lots of close-ups are just not justified and useless. While the dance is missed.
Framing. In the scene when Juliet dances for Romeo - she is cut, the rule of thirds again failed, lots of people close/around her, and no Romeo. We can see him montaged in close-ups a couple of times... I want to see both actors in the same medium shot scene. The tension between them and do not care about other people's faces. They are secondary. But instead, Juliet looks standalone.
In close-ups, faces are often... blurred. If that was on purpose - then I didn't get the point.
4. Music. All fans would hate me here. But, in 2020 we might need more tragedy in really sad moments. For example - the finale scene. Romeo died and Juliet wakes up - light and delicate music (Yes, I am sorry for not knowing what is the title of this composition). Then she sees Romeo and her face screams - but the music is the same. The mood is changed - but the sound remains the same. I can't share her pain with the kind and optimistic composition.
In general, I love the idea. I would not watch it again because of the camera and editing. But hope that if we have more such movies - it would become better.
If anyone knows a good example of camera work for a ballet movie - I would be thankful if you share it with me :)
