R and J

{{short description|2021 American drama film based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet}}

{{Infobox film

| name = R#J

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| director = Carey Williams

| producer = {{plainlist|

Timur Bekmambetov
Oleksii Sobolev
Igor Tsay

}}

| screenplay = {{plainlist|

Rickie Castaneda
Oleksii Sobolev
Carey Williams

}}

| based_on = {{based on|Romeo and Juliet|William Shakespeare}}

| starring = {{plainlist|

}}

| music = Rene G. Boscio

| cinematography = Diego Madrigal

| editing = Lam Nguyen

| production_companies = Interface Films

| distributor =

| released = {{Film date|2021|1|30|Sundance{{cite web |url= https://fpg.festival.sundance.org/film-info/5fd03c2a2885b876de9466d3 |title= Sundance - FPG |website= Sundance |access-date= January 18, 2021 |archive-date= January 17, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210117212152/https://fpg.festival.sundance.org/film-info/5fd03c2a2885b876de9466d3 |url-status= dead }}}}

| runtime = 91 min.

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

R#J is a 2021 American experimental romantic drama film written by Rickie Castaneda, Oleksii Sobolev and Carey Williams, who is also the director. The film stars David Zayas, María Gabriela de Faría, Diego Tinoco and RJ Cyler. The film is a modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare's romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet, told through text messages, photos and videos on mobile phones and social media posts.

The film had its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival on January 30, 2021.

Cast

David Zayas as Fernando
María Gabriela de Faría as Nancy
Diego Tinoco as Tybalt{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/on-my-block-diego-tinoco-siddiq-saunderson-romeo-juliet-timur-bekmambetov-1202911615/|title='On My Block's Diego Tinoco, Siddiq Saunderson Set For 'Romeo and Juliet' Screenlife Adaptation From Producer Timur Bekmambetov|website=Deadline|first=Amanda|last=N'Duka|date=April 20, 2020|access-date=January 18, 2021}}
RJ Cyler as Benvo
Moe Irvin as Alcide Montague
Jacob Ming-Trent as Friar Lawrence
Emilio Garcia-Sanchez as Sampson
Camaron Engels as Romeo{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/global/camaron-engels-romeo-and-juliet-timur-bekmambetov-1234573194/|title=Camaron Engels and Francesca Noel to Star in 'Romeo and Juliet,' Produced by Timur Bekmambetov (EXCLUSIVE)|website=Variety|first=Leo|last=Barraclough|date=April 7, 2020|access-date=January 18, 2021}}
Siddiq Saunderson as Mercutio
Ricky Russert as Gregory
Francesca Noel as Juliet
DeShawn Cavanaugh as Abram
Matias Ponce as Young Fernando

Release

The film had its premiere in the 2021 Sundance Film Festival on January 30, 2021 in the Next section.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/sundance-film-festival-announces-2021-lineup-1234854059/|title=Sundance Film Festival Lineup Features 38 First-Time Directors, Including Rebecca Hall and Robin Wright|website=Variety|first=Peter|last=Debruge|date=December 15, 2020|access-date=January 18, 2021}} It also screened at South by Southwest in March 2021, where it won the Adobe Editing Award.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/sxsw-film-festival-emotionally-charged-drama-the-fallout-and-docu-lily-topples-the-world-among-jury-award-winners-1234717468/|title = SXSW Film Festival: 'The Fallout' and Docu 'Lily Topples the World' Among Jury Award Winners|date = March 19, 2021}}

Reception

R#J received mixed reviews from critics. {{Rotten Tomatoes prose|52|6.4|27|R#J represents an admirable attempt to update Romeo and Juliet, but alas, its bounty is not quite as boundless as the sea.|ref=yes|access-date=April 5, 2021}}