I just came from seeing Ralph Fiennes’s Coriolanus. I’m pretty sure it’s still in limited release but I’m hoping that some of you may have also seen it nonetheless.
I thought it was spectacular. No surprise that the acting was brilliant. I mean just look who’s in it - Ralph Fiennes himself, Vanessa Redgrave, Gerard Butler, and Jessica Chastain (what a year she’s had; yet another amazing movie). Each seemed to thrive on the great performance of the others. Fiennes confirmed that he is a genius (not that there has been any doubt after his performance as Amon Goeth).
I am no film maven but was still able to appreciate the clever screenplay and especially the brilliant editing and cinematography - consistently clever camera angles added important perspectives. By and large, these were done to help balance and coordinate between the intimate and the huge. In other words, at its heart, of course, Coriolanus is a stage play. And by that definition, it must be intimate. Indeed, its focus on the relationship and conflict between Coriolanus and his family, and between Coriolanus and his nemesis Tullus, demands a coned down, almost private perspective. On the other hand, the film most convey that Coriolanus was a general, and later a leader, of a great city-state locked in a fight for survival with its enemies. Amazingly, that broader perspective is somehow conveyed by focusing on the actions and words of, perhaps, five or six key characters. Same for the battle scenes which, even though they involve only a few dozen soldiers, still substitute successfully for a much wider conflict.
I must fess up about the dialogue, though. Between the stars’ accents and the Shakespearean vocabulary and phrasing, I missed a lot. It is testimony to the film’s excellence that I still enjoyed it immensely.
Anybody else see it and want to say what they thought?
I’ve seen it and I agree with most of your comments, but it is a very long and intense film, not for the fainthearted.
I liked a lot of what they did in transferring the play to a modern context. Obviously, these days our generals are not likely to meet in battle and engage in one to one combat. Having it take place during the chaos of a running street fight made it make sense.
I had a fierce love for this play when I was younger, being really into Coriolanus’ steadfastness. Thirty years later, I don’t see things as so black and white, and wonder how differently I will react to his story now.
I will definitely see this movie, and probably reread the play first. Looking forward to it on DVD.
Okay, reviving this thread to report that almost 2 years later, I did just watch the DVD. It was very intense, well-adapted visually and has great acting, especially Vanessa Redgrave as the mother and Brian Cox as Menenius.
What I liked about the play 30-plus years ago (Coriolanus’ constancy) seems extremely self-centered in this film, or at least more opaque. As interesting as Fiennes is, his performance is impenetrable beyond a certain point, missing opportunities to make him even a bit sympathetic. I wonder if that was a conscious acting choice. Still very impressive.
The film raised many compelling issues about war, governance, and family that were enhanced by the modern setting. Now I’m ready for the National Theatre’s performance in January with Tom Hiddleston as Coriolanus and Mark Gatiss as Menenius. I’ll try to catch the international broadcast.
I also saw Coriolanus. Overall, I’d say that it was good. Sets and camerawork were brilliant, but I’m not as convinced that the acting was good. There are some people who can deliver Shakespeare in a way that doesn’t sound like they’re struggling to read a script, but several of the major characters came across very wooden. I’m no actor, but I remember doing some readings of Shakespeare in school, and I learned that you have to be very careful to use the rhythm of iambic pentameter without being dominated by it. It’s not easy to do without sounding too mechanical.
Nah, Fiennes locked in the genius label after his performance in Spider. For that matter, Miranda Richardson locked it in with her performance in the same film.
I haven’t seen Coriolanus but I’m very much encouraged by what I’ve read in this thread and I’m adding it to my list.
I saw it a couple of months ago and thought it was quite good. The leads are all justly praised for their performances, but I also particularly enjoyed James Nesbitt’s performance as the slimy tribune.
