Finally! Voldemort and that guy from 300 together at last! In his directing debut, actor Ralph Fiennes delivers a powerful and poignant modern interpretation of one of Shakespeare’s lesser-known plays, Coriolanus. It is a brutal, violent, and oftentimes jarring film that resonates long after the film is over.
Perhaps it’s the recent uprisings in the Middle East of Greece that have me thinking about the film in terms of it’s relevance today, but there is plenty here that parallels current events that we have seen on the news and the web everyday. Due to the military aspect it seems quite relevant given the Egyptian military’s involvement with the government following the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak.
What was also interesting was the use of Shakespeare’s text for the dialogue. Similar to Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, the film blends modern constructs with the poetic word of the bard to create a seamless bond that elevates the film to a deeper level than a straight interpretation could.
It may be a bit off-putting to some at first since they are speaking in a much different style than most are used to. But after a while you fall into the rhythm of the dialogue and it becomes a part of the world we are experiencing.
It’s a who’s who of great actors with Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Brian Cox, Vanessa Redgrave, Jessica Chastain, and James Nesbitt comprising a solid cast that helps bring the words of Shakespeare to life in this modern day telling. And it’s always nice to see great actors do Shakespeare.
Special features include a Feature Commentary with Director Ralph Fiennes and The Making of Coriolanus. It’s not a film for everyone due to it’s violent content, but it’s a definite must for those interested in seeing a film that touches on topical issues in the news today.
I recommend checking out Coriolanus.
Coriolanus is available NOW on DVD and Blu-ray!