Tragedy of Antony And Cleopatra
Mark Antony – one of the Triumvirs of Rome along with
Octavian and
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus – has neglected his soldierly duties after being beguiled by Egypt's Queen,
Cleopatra VII. He ignores Rome's domestic problems, including the fact that his third wife
Fulvia rebelled against Octavian and then died.
Octavian calls Antony back to Rome from
Alexandria in order to help him fight against
Sextus Pompey,
Menecrates, and
Menas, three notorious pirates of the
Mediterranean. At Alexandria, Cleopatra begs Antony not to go, and though he repeatedly affirms his love for her, he eventually leaves.
Back in Rome,
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa brings forward the idea that Antony should marry Octavian's sister,
Octavia the Younger, in order to cement the bond between the two men. Antony's lieutenant
Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, though, knows that Octavia can never satisfy him after Cleopatra. In a famous passage, he delineates Cleopatra's charms in paradoxical terms: "Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale / Her infinite variety: other women cloy / The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry / Where most she satisfies."
A soothsayer warns Antony that he is sure to lose if he ever tries to fight Octavian.
In Egypt, Cleopatra learns of Antony's marriage to Octavia and takes furious revenge upon the messenger that brings her the news. She grows content only when her courtiers assure her that Octavia is homely by Elizabethan standards: short, low-browed, round-faced and with bad hair.
At a confrontation, the triumvirs parley with
Sextus Pompey, and offer him a truce. He can retain
Sicily and
Sardinia, but he must help them "rid the sea of pirates" and send them tributes. After some hesitation Pompey accedes. They engage in a drunken celebration on Pompey's galley. Menas suggests to Pompey that he kill the three triumvirs and make himself ruler of Rome, but he refuses, finding it dishonorable. Later, Octavian and Lepidus break their truce with Pompey and war against him. This is unapproved by Antony, and he is furious.
Antony returns to Alexandria, Egypt, and crowns Cleopatra and himself as rulers of Egypt and the eastern third of the Roman Empire (which was Antony's share as one of the triumvirs). He accuses Octavian of not giving him his fair share of Pompey's lands, and is angry that Lepidus, whom Octavian has imprisoned, is out of the triumvirate. Octavian agrees to the former demand, but otherwise is very displeased with what Antony has done.
Antony prepares to battle Octavian. Ahenobarbus urges Antony to fight on land, where he has the advantage, instead of by sea, where the navy of Octavius is lighter, more mobile and better manned. Antony refuses, since Octavian has dared him to fight at sea. Cleopatra pledges her fleet to aid Antony. However, in the middle of the
Battle of Actium, Cleopatra flees with her sixty ships, and Antony follows her, leaving his army to ruin. Ashamed of what he has done for the love of Cleopatra, Antony reproaches her for making him a coward, but also sets this love above all else, saying "Give me a kiss; even this repays me."
Octavian sends a messenger to ask Cleopatra to give up Antony and come over to his side. She hesitates, and flirts with the messenger, when Antony walks in and angrily denounces her behavior. He sends the messenger to be whipped. Eventually, he forgives Cleopatra and pledges to fight another battle for her, this time on land.
On the eve of the battle, Antony's soldiers hear strange portents, which they interpret as the god
Hercules abandoning his protection of Antony. Furthermore, Ahenobarbus, Antony's long-serving lieutenant, deserts him and goes over to Octavian's side. Rather than confiscating Ahenobarbus's goods, which he did not take with him when he fled to Octavian, Antony orders them to be sent to Ahenobarbus. Ahenobarbus is so overwhelmed by Antony's generosity, and so ashamed of his own disloyalty, that he dies from a broken heart.
The battle goes well for Antony, until Octavian shifts it to a sea-fight. Once again, Antony loses when Cleopatra's ships break off action and flee — his own fleet surrenders, and he denounces Cleopatra: "This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me." He resolves to kill her for the treachery. Cleopatra decides that the only way to win back Antony's love is to send him word that she killed herself, dying with his name on her lips. She locks herself in her monument, and awaits Antony's return.
Her plan fails: rather than rushing back in remorse to see the "dead" Cleopatra, Antony decides that his own life is no longer worth living. He begs one of his aides, Eros, to run him through with a sword, but Eros cannot bear to do it, and kills himself. Antony admires Eros' courage and attempts to do the same, but only succeeds in wounding himself. In great pain, he learns that Cleopatra is indeed alive. He is hoisted up to her in her monument, and dies in her arms.
Octavian goes to Cleopatra, trying to persuade her to surrender. She angrily refuses, since she can imagine nothing worse than being led in triumph through the streets of Rome, proclaimed a villain for the ages. She imagines that "the quick comedians / Extemporally will stage us, and present / Our Alexandrian revels: Antony / Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see / Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness / I' th' posture of a whore." This speech is full of
dramatic irony, because in Shakespeare's time Cleopatra really was played by a "squeaking boy", and Shakespeare's play does depict Antony's drunken revels.
Cleopatra is betrayed and taken into custody by the Romans. She gives Octavian what she claims is a complete account of her wealth, but is betrayed by her treasurer, who claims she is holding treasure back. Octavian reassures her that he is not interested in her wealth, but Dolabella warns her that he intends to parade her at his triumph.
Cleopatra resolves to kill herself, using the poison of an
asp. She dies calmly and ecstatically, imagining how she will meet Antony again in the afterlife. Her serving maids, Iras and Charmian, also kill themselves. Octavian discovers the dead bodies and experiences conflicting emotions. Antony's and Cleopatra's deaths leave him free to become the first
Roman Emperor, but he also feels some kind of sympathy for them: "She shall be buried by her Antony. / No grave upon the earth shall clip in it / A pair so famous..." He orders a public military funeral.
Romeo and Juliet
In modern day, in the city of
Verona Beach, the Capulets and the Montagues are rivals. The animosity of the older generation -
Fulgencio (
Paul Sorvino) and
Gloria Capulet (
Diane Venora) and
Ted (
Brian Dennehy) and
Caroline Montague (
Christina Pickles) - is felt by their younger relatives. While stopping for gas, the Montague boys led by
Benvolio (
Dash Mihok), Romeo's cousin, come face to face with the Capulet boys led by
Tybalt (
John Leguizamo), Juliet's cousin. A gunfight ensues between Benvolio and Tybalt, setting fire to the petrol station and creating chaos in the city. The Chief of Police,
Captain Prince (
Vondie Curtis-Hall), reprimands the boys, as well as Fulgencio and Ted. He warns them that if such behavior continues, their lives "shall pay the forfeit of the peace".
Caroline expresses her worry over her son,
Romeo (
Leonardo DiCaprio), who has been depressed. Benvolio talks to his cousin and learns that Romeo is in love, but the object of his affection, Rosaline, does not love him.
Dave Paris (
Paul Rudd), son of the Governor and nominated "Bachelor of the Year", meets with Fulgencio. Paris wants to marry Fulgencio's daughter,
Juliet (
Claire Danes), but Fulgencio thinks she is too young. Nevertheless, he invites Paris to a party he is hosting that night. Gloria tries convincing Juliet to accept Paris' proposal, but she is not persuaded. Meanwhile, at Sycamore Grove, the Montague boys and Romeo meet their friend,
Mercutio (
Harold Perrineau), who has gotten them tickets to the Capulet party. Mercutio tries convincing Romeo to attend the party, which Rosaline will also be attending. Romeo takes a pill Mercutio gives him, and they proceed to the Capulet mansion. The effects of the drug and the party overwhelm Romeo, who goes to the restroom. While admiring the fish tank, he spots Juliet on the other side. Before they can speak, Juliet's
nurse (
Miriam Margolyes) whisks her off to dance with Paris. Romeo is spotted by Tybalt, who vows to kill him for invading his family's home, but Fulgencio stops him, afraid he will make a scene. Romeo and Juliet sneak into an elevator and kiss, but are spotted by the
nurse when the doors open. Juliet is dragged away by her nurse, who reveals Romeo’s identity as a Montague at the same time Romeo realises Juliet is a Capulet. Romeo is pulled from the party by Mercutio while Juliet watches from a balcony.
Romeo sneaks back to the mansion, hiding under Juliet’s balcony. Juliet emerges into the yard, not knowing he is there, and proclaims her love for him before Romeo sneaks up behind her. Juliet is horrified that he risked death to return, but Romeo tells her he does not care whether he is caught. Knowing her nurse is looking for her, Juliet tells him that if he sends word by the following day, she will be his. Romeo visits
Father Lawrence (
Pete Postlethwaite), telling him he wants to marry Juliet. The priest agrees to marry the pair. Romeo passes the word onto Juliet’s nurse, and the lovers are married that afternoon, with the nurse and Romeo's friend Balthasar (
Jesse Bradford) as witnesses. Tybalt encounters Mercutio and the Montagues. As the two are about to draw their weapons, Romeo arrives. He attempts to make peace, but Tybalt assaults him. Mercutio is about to kill Tybalt when Romeo stops him. Tybalt stabs Mercutio with a shard of glass, killing him, but not before Mercutio curses the warring houses. Romeo kills the fleeing Tybalt. Prince banishes Romeo from the city on pain of death. Romeo, hiding with Father Lawrence, claims he would rather die than be banished. At the Capulet mansion Juliet prays, horrified by what has happened. When Romeo climbs over her balcony, she kisses him and they make love. Fulgencio decides Juliet will marry Paris.
The next morning, Romeo prepares to leave as Juliet begs him to stay. Juliet's nurse tells them Gloria is on her way to Juliet's room. Romeo climbs out the window, promising Juliet he will see her again. Juliet learns she has been promised to Paris. When she refuses to marry Paris, her father tells her that if she does not marry Paris she will be disowned and thrown onto the streets. Her mother refuses to delay the wedding and her nurse tells her it would be in her best interests to marry Paris. Faced with the possibility of being wedded to Paris, Juliet sees Friar Lawrence, imploring him to help her and threatening to commit suicide. The priest proposes she fake death instead, so she will be put in the Capulet vault to awaken 24 hours later. Romeo will be told of the plot, sneak into the vault, and once reunited, the two can travel to Mantua. He gives her the poison necessary to make her seem dead.
After saying goodnight to her mother, Juliet takes the poison. She is found in the morning, declared dead, and placed in the Capulet vault. Balthasar learns Juliet is dead and tells Romeo, who was not home when the messenger arrived to tell him of the plan. Romeo returns to Verona, where he buys poison. Father Lawrence learns that Romeo has no idea Juliet is alive. Romeo enters the church where Juliet lies. Juliet awakens as Romeo drinks the potion. The two kiss before Romeo dies. Juliet picks up Romeo's handgun and shoots herself in the head. The two lovers are discovered in each other's arms.
The film ends with ambulances coming and a crowd assembles as Captain Prince shames everyone for the events that occurred.
