By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 5 cats
Director: Ralph Fiennes
Starring: Brian Cox | Gerard Butler | James Nesbitt | Jessica Chastain | Ralph Fiennes | Vanessa Redgrave
Country: united_kingdom
Year: 2012
Running time: 123
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1372686/
Thom says: “Being such a huge fan of Shakespeare I expected this film to be superlative, and by God it was even better than I had anticipated. After sitting through ANONYMOUS this film was a breath of fresh air, all that much more so because the only previous version I’ve seen of this problematic Shakespeare play was the UK THE COMPLETE DRAMATIC WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE CORIOLANUS from 1984 directed by Elijah
Moshinsky with Alan Howard as Coriolanus. There was also a 1965 television version with John Nightingale playing the patrician general and a 1979 video with Morgan Freeman playing Coriolanus, but this is the first time it’s been done as a feature film and I was thrilled to see that Fiennes has opened it up to minimize the claustrophobic qualities of the play. There’s little need to review the plot as I’m certain all my readers are familiar with this outstanding tragedy but Fiennes creates a masterful vision of Rome in torment and increases the intensity of a populace close to rioting and the plotting politicians ever mindful of their own status and acclaim. Redgrave is at the top of her game as Coriolanus’ vicious and self-serving mother Volumnia. She’s even better here than she was as Queen Elizabeth in the aforementioned ANONYMOUS. The use of video is a terrific addition to the story. 5 cats”
Toni says: “This did not get much of a theatrical release but certainly should be considered for direction, production design, and ensemble acting.
“It is now on DVD and you don’t have to be a big Shakespeare fan because the adaptation is solid to connect to the present day.
“Thanks Thom for pointing out the options of other older options of this play and comparisons to this version, directed by Ralph Fiennes.
“I must add that I love the underrated Irish actor James Nesbitt (FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN and BLOODY SUNDAY) who plays the bad guy here as a fine edition to the ensemble. 5 cats”