★ 6 / 10
This reminded me a little of Sir Ian
CinemaSerf
This reminded me a little of Sir Ian McKellen’s 1995 reimagining of “Richard III” as Ralph Fiennes turns his hand to directing this Shakespeare story of…
This reminded me a little of Sir Ian McKellen’s 1995 reimagining of “Richard III” as Ralph Fiennes turns his hand to directing this Shakespeare story of power-lust and betrayal. It’s maybe not the most famous of the bard’s works, nor for my money is it one of his most original. The story itself has shades of “Julius Caesar” too it as it depicts the rise and fall of the eponymous dictator (Fiennes). It all starts when the grain-deprived masses of the city take to the streets and their leader, who holds most of these plebs in utter contempt, finds himself unexpectedly deposed by the council - upon which sits his own mother (Vanessa Redgrave) - and shown the Appian Way. Disillusioned and furious, he enters into his own equivalent of a Faustian pact and swears allegiance to his bitterest enemy “Aufidius” (the seriously over-challenged Gerard Butler). What chance he can galvanise his new ally into helping him regain what he has lost - and, probably more consistently throughout this internecine web of deceit and suspicion, can anyone really trust anyone else to keep their promises? This does look good, and the assembled cast are extremely competent at delivering some of the poignant and thoughtful dialogue contained in this political tragedy, but I felt that perhaps too much of the nuance had to be condensed out of this necessarily abridged story, and somehow the fact that it wasn’t stage-bound lessened the intensity of the characterisations. Though she looked entirely natural in her pseudo-Fascist uniform, I felt Redgrave lacked for emotion as she performed and Fiennes over-compensated for that with plenty of intensely photographed opportunities for his nostrils to flare and his Adam’s Apple to agitate. As is so often the case with these adaptations, they can’t be as long as the original and so have to compromise. This one did a little too much of that for my liking. Still, if it encourages folk to read his works, then it is film well used.
Read full review
★ 7 / 10
Coriolanus will have Shakespeare enthusiasts chomping-at-the-bit, students scrambling for the exits.
jackharding89-1
A modern-day spin on one of Shakespeare's lesser known plays, Coriolanus is an ambitious and lyrical Greek tragedy that has everything you'd expect from the…
A modern-day spin on one of Shakespeare's lesser known plays, Coriolanus is an ambitious and lyrical Greek tragedy that has everything you'd expect from the mind of the Bard; betrayal, revenge, pride, conflict, monologues, dilemmas, death- it's all in there. The only thing missing is a star-crossed lover or two.
Both its star and director, Ralph Fiennes follows past masters Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Branagh onto the breach in this doomy and demanding directorial debut that may signal a new and exciting direction for the steely-eyed actor.
Set in a city on the verge of collapse that resembles Tripoli but calls itself Rome, the film charts the rise and fall of general Coriolanus (Fiennes); a fiery soldier of war-torn Rome who earns his stripes in a bloody battle against an insurgent army lead by Turrus (Gerard Butler). In the aftermath of a brutal bullet storm and knife fight, Coriolanus emerges victorious and is branded the symbol of a new and prosperous empire. It doesn't work out. The decorated vet is more brawn than brains; his strong sense of pride coupled with the dirty work of corrupt bureaucrats and advisors lead to civil unrest and, in turn, a verbal attack by Coriolanus' on the people of Rome which results in his banishment from the city. Bitter, betrayed and hell- bent on revenge, the spitting outlaw seeks refuge and redemption in who else but his sworn enemy, Turrus.
Swapping the frantic razzmatazz of Baz Lurhmann's Romeo and Juliet retool for a far more gritty and paced approach, Fiennes has crafted a brave and bombastic drama that'll probably find its way onto a school curriculum or two before the year is out. And why not. His contemporary vision of a 300+ year old morality play is one awash with thought, feeling, values, complexities, politics and emotion- pure, unadulterated Shakespeare.
Coriolanus is far from the vision of just one man, though. Gladiator screenwriter Josh Lucas lays the necessary footing for Fiennes and Hurt Locker cinematographer Barry Ackroyd to bring the tale to life. Stirling support also comes in the shape of seasoned thesps Brian cox, Vanessa Redgrave, James Nesbitt and....Gerard Butler; all of which are new to big-screen Shakespeare yet convincing nonetheless. Even Butler.
The screen belongs to a raw and rampant Ralph Fiennes, though. More than just a noseless sorcerer, Fiennes is an exceptional actor and, now, promising director whose verbose and gung-ho approach from both behind and in front of the lens makes for a fascinating commitment. "Such is the work of a man". Olivier and Branagh would be proud. Coriolanus will have Shakespeare enthusiasts chomping-at-the-bit, students scrambling for the exits.
Read full review
92%
TOMATOMETER
· 153 reviews
58%
AUDIENCE
· 10K ratings
6.1/10
35.1K
•••
Worst gerard butler movie ever!!! Shakespeare in the 20th century movie era is like tea without milk... Pointless... Very disappointed.