Shakespeare’s Coriolanus was adapted by Oscar-nominated scriptwriter John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator, Hugo) for a modern audience with a contemporary setting yet retaining the original language. This worked well with Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet given the popularity of its young cast and well-known tale of tragic love. Coriolanus, however, is one of Shakespeare’s lesser-known plays and there is little to engage newcomers.
Fiennes’ titular character returns from battle an outcast as a result of his political views and seeks alliance with his former enemy (Butler) to wreak vengeance on the city. Fiennes has been widely celebrated for his directorial debut, with nominations from BAFTA and BIFA to name just two awards, and his attempt to portray such a story in a modern, war documentary style was a valiant effort. However, the action feels slow-paced and the characters are difficult to relate to.
It’s not very often that I use the term ‘mind-numbingly dull’ when penning a film review. Unfortunately, Coriolanus calls for such a review. Despite an outstanding cast featuring Ralph Fiennes (also in the role of director and producer), Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Cox, James Nesbitt and Jessica Chastain, the script and scale of the film seems better suited to a BBC1 two-part drama.
If the intention was to bring Shakespeare to a wider audience, Fiennes and Logan may have been better off updating the language as well as the setting, much in the way of 10 Things I Hate About You (The Taming of the Shrew), Get Over It (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and O (Othello), but for a more mature audience. The war doc style worked well (cinematographer Barry Ackroyd also worked on The Hurt Locker, The Wind That Shakes the Barley and United 93) but the story itself was dull and torturous.
Extra features consist of a behind the scenes featurette with Will Young (yes, really!) and extensive cast and crew interviews. Audiences also gain an insight into Fiennes’ decision to bring the story to the big screen ten years after he played the title role on stage as well as the move to update the story and shoot in Belgrade. A resounding three torches of truth for the extra features.
Emma has awarded Coriolanus two Torches of Truth.
