Ralph Fiennes brings Shakespeare to the screen for his directorial debut which may come as no surprise to many who are familiar with his work away from Harry Potter. What would have been a surprise? If he had decided to make an all guns blazing action CGI weapon laden robot army gunning down wizards competing for mythical lands with a well oiled Gerard Butler leading the charge, now that would have been a surprise but I debut Kenneth Branagh would be happy? So for him to bring Coriolanus to the screen for the first time was a brave one like most modern adaptions of Shakespeare screen writer John Logan has applied a contemporary narrative to the play flattening the complexities of the original text and simplifying story the, taking the war and political aspects of the play and playing it out through the media giving it a populist spin by using real life news anchorman JON SNOW (playing himself) as a unintruesive narrator of sorts. This plot device came in handy when pacifying an increasingly annoying girl who felt the need to be spoon fed the entire film by her partner who was equally uniformed and even going on to tell her 'I think their in Afghanistan'. Ralph Fiennes plays down the theatricals as the brilliant Roman general Caius Martius Coriolanus ( I had hoped for a more bombastic and arrogant portrayal of Coriolanus taking on board the historic as well as the Shakespearian text) and arch nemesis and enemy of Rome Aufidius played by the aforementioned Gerard Butler.
The film has a linear flow to it moving from the conquering hero, enter the scheming opposition of Brutus (James Nesbitt) and Sicinius (Paul Jesson) fueling a popular up rising that results in the exile from Rome of Coriolanus. Wrapped only in his blanket of vengeance he seeks out Aufidius, trekking through a depressing Serbian landscape to Volscia an unrecognizable Coriolanus offers his life to spite the country that banished him, but Aufidius takes pity on him and allows him to lead the assault on Rome.
Jon Snow pops up to warn us of the approaching Volscian troops lead by Coriolanus, the fallen general rises like a Phoenix from the ashes on route to take back land that abandoned him as the army fails to withstand his approach and the politicians run scared their last hope is his mother ( just think how many wars could have been avoided if the power that be had just sent in their mums) yes his mother volumnia who persuades him to dissuade from destroying Rome. The role of Volumnia is devoured by Vanessa Redgrave the harsh love she exhibits is uncomfortable but very watchable both hers and Brian (Man hunter) Cox as Menenius are the standout performances in what I predict to be the first of many attempts to reinterpret this play. As much as I loved the film there were a few niggles I need to get off my chest the supposed riots felt bit subdued I've seen more violence seen at a guest designer sales at H&M and the Jeremy Kyle style uprising in the TV studio was a little jarring.
Verdict: When it comes to re-inventing Shakespeare BAZ LUHRMANN's Romeo and Juliet has set such a high bench mark it's going to be hard match visually or narratively.
TWO THUMBS
THIS IS HOW IT'S DONE
CORIOLANUS
Screenings at cornerhouse amc odeon
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