Coriolanus

Director: Ralph Fiennes
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Brian Cox, Vanessa Redgrave and Jessica Chastain
Release Date: 2012-01-20
Quick Take: Much ado about Shakespeare

It’s what would sufficiently justify Ralph Fiennes’ enchantment with the Shakespearean play Coriolanus. The film is unique, it’s vivid but it’s also indulgent. Coriolanus’ technical feats are impressive given that Fiennes is making his directorial debut. But the end product looks a bit misplaced, especially in the form of a feature film.

So Coriolanus is a tragedy by Shakespeare. It deals with a Roman soldier-general Martius who first conquers the city of Corioles overcoming the army of Volscian commander Affidius. He then returns to Rome triumphant and a hero. The next step, his mother suggests, is to run for senate consul. Well that’s when a couple of snickering politicians trick the straight-minded Coriolanus and have him labeled traitor and banished. Coriolanus the film stays true to the original play right down to using the old Elizabethan English. The twist is the setting of the story in a modern world. Military with modern assault rifles, Mercedes cars, sky scrapers etc. We’ve seen it before in Romeo + Juliet. But somehow, the charm that made the love story work, doesn’t come through with Coriolanus.

There are moments of high drama, amplified by aggressive camera work and Ralph Fiennes’ indelible acting talents. But, there’s ambiguity in equal measure. For example, when Coriolanus speaks to the first citizens of Rome, advocating his election as consul, he addresses but a handful of people who vote in his favour. Seconds later the Tribunes Brutus and Scinius start bad mouthing him, perhaps in the vicinity of Coriolanus. Trouble is, the film is a direct rendition of the play. But where you learn to suspend a few expectations in detailing on stage, doing so on screen is unfair.

Fiennes’ bare minimum approach to making the film robs it of a certain cinematic impact. Many scenes go without a background score and others feature tight zooms of the actors’ faces. Let’s just say if you’re not into the European kind of cinema, you’d find yourself staring effortlessly through the screen of the theatre.

Coriolanus is a niche product. Unless you fancy Shakespeare as your text book to life, you’d have very little to cheer about in the film. Yes performances by Fiennes, Vanessa Redgrave and Brian Cox will hold your attention. But sitting through this literal rendition of one of Shakespeare’s most guerilla tragedies could leave you a bit misty. To watch or not to watch, that is the question.