“Coriolanus”
Year: 2012
Director: Ralph Fiennes
Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Gerald Butler, and Vanessa Redgrave
Studio: Anchor Bay Films
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 123 Mins.

When there is a new film based on a William Shakespeare play, it always seems to grab my interest and curiosity. Maybe it’s the fact that I always enjoy them. Whether it is Romeo and Juliet (1968), Richard III (1995) or Hamlet (1996), I’ve always been interested in the Shakespeare’s works. This leads to the latest adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Coriolanus”.

The film marks the directorial debut from actor Ralph Fiennes. It takes place in the modern day, where Caius Martius Coriolanus (Fiennes) is a feared and vicious Roman general that finds himself in a lot of trouble. After rebelling against the wishes of his manipulative mother (Vanessa Redgrave) and inciting a riot on the streets of Rome, he is exiled from there. He then, hooks up with his sworn enemy Titus Aufidius (Gerald Butler) to reclaim Rome from him and Aufidius’ people. Brian Cox, Jessica Chastain and James Nesbitt also co-star in the film.

“Coriolanus” is one of those films, where you can’t understand why this didn’t find an audience with theatergoers. This film had an epic feel to it. Most of that had to with Ralph Fiennes’ direction. One of the things that made his direction very good was the way that he handles the action elements. The action scenes had that feel of an epic war film. It has very good firefight sequences and intense action that helps make the pace of the film move at a brisk pace for its two hour running time.

Also, I liked the way that Fiennes directs himself and his cast. The performances were very good. Fiennes does a very good job using his experiences as an actor to get his cast to make their performances to be on the level of a Shakespearian play. There were some very good performances here from Fiennes, Vanessa Redgrave and Gerard Butler that help keep your interest through the Shakespearian dialogue.

John Logan, who also wrote the screenplays for “Gladiator” and “Hugo”, does a very good job with the way that he sets the film’s tone. He does that, by the way that he writes the dialogue. The dialogue felt like it came right out of a Shakespearian play. It helps set the tone that was going to be an epic film. Logan also does a very good job making the main character so engaging. Whether during that battle scenes or the scenes with the protestors, you very interested in the character and how he’s going to react. It’s those scenes that got me interested in the character.

If there was one thing that I didn’t like, we don’t see much of the Coriolanus/Aufidius dynamic. It would have been nice to have seen a couple of more scenes with the two characters just to give sense of the relationship between the two characters. Even without that, this is still a very good film.

This is one of those films that I truly hope will find an audience on DVD and Blu-Ray. With very solid acting and great direction from Ralph Fiennes, “Coriolanus” is one very entertaining film.

Review Rating: Five Stars.

Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company has send over information about their upcoming DVD and Blu-Ray release of "Coriolanus" This film marks the directorial debut from actor Ralph Fiennes and with the screenplay written by three time Academy Award nominee John Logan. The film also boasts an all star cast that includes Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Cox, Jessica Chastain, James Nesbitt. Special Features on the Dvd an Blu-Ray include an audio commentary with the film’s director and star, Ralph Fiennes, and a “The Making of Coriolanus” featurette. "Coriolanus" set to stores on May 29th.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: www.coriolanusmovie.net

Press Release:

Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company announced today the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD release of two-time Academy Award® nominee Ralph Fiennes’ (Schindler's List, The English Patient) directorial debut, CORIOLANUS. Fiennes, who also stars in the title role, was nominated for a 2012 BAFTA Award – Britain’s equivalent to an Oscar® – for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer. Based on the original play by William Shakespeare, the critically-acclaimed film features an award-winning cast that includes Gerard Butler (300, The Ugly Truth), Academy Award® winner Vanessa Redgrave (Julia, Howards End), Academy Award® nominee Jessica Chastain (The Help, Tree of Life), and Emmy® Award winner Brian Cox (Bourne Identity, HBO’s “Deadwood”). A fast-paced, action-packed film, CORIOLANUS heads to retail on May 29, 2012 for an SRP of $34.99 for the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and $26.98 for the DVD.


In her review for Entertainment Weekly, film critic Lisa Schwarzbaum described Fiennes’ interpretation of CORIOLANUS as “an utterly arresting, creative modern-day adaptation.” David Edelstein, film critic for New York Magazine, wrote CORIOLANUS is “sensational and gripping,” adding “Brian Cox is superb and Jessica Chastain is riveting!” Wrote The Hollywood Reporter’s Ray Bennett, “Ralph Fiennes delivers heavyweight screen acting at its best,” while Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers exclaimed, “Ralph Fiennes, as star and commander, pulls off a triumph!”


The classic legend of honor and betrayal has been astonishingly re-imagined in this exhilarating action thriller that wields a profound relevance for today. Caius Martius ‘Coriolanus’ (star and director Ralph Fiennes) is a feared and revered Roman General, suddenly pitted against his own city and fellow citizens. Rebelling against the power-hungry designs of his manipulative mother (Vanessa Redgrave) and rejected by his own people, Coriolanus incites a riot that expels him from Rome. The banished hero joins forces with his sworn enemy Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler) to exact his revenge — and determine his destiny.


The CORIOLANUS Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD special features include an audio commentary with the film’s director and star, Ralph Fiennes, and a “The Making of Coriolanus” featurette. Note: Special features are subject to change.


Learn more about CORIOLANUS at: www.coriolanusmovie.net.

Ralph Fiennes makes his directorial debut with “Coriolanus” which is based on William Shakespeare’s tragedy of the same name. He also stars as Caius Martius, a Roman general who is both revered and feared, and at odds with his fellow citizens. Fiennes certainly picked a most challenging project for his first film as director, but having done many Shakespeare plays onstage, he has a mastery of the bard’s infinitely passionate dialogue.

The action has been moved to present day where parallels to Occupy Wall Street and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan can be seen. Caius has more than proven himself in combat, but the townspeople despise him for taking their food away. When he is pushed by his mother Volumnia (Vanessa Redgrave) to seek the powerful position of Consul, fellow politicians scheme against him and get the town to expel him for good. This forces Caius to join forces with his blood enemy Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler) in battling the Romans and seeking vengeance against those who betrayed his trust.

“Coriolanus” is one of those Shakespeare plays you could do an entire thesis on as it covers many thematic elements. Be it the power of the people, the corruption of politics, the selfish desires of others, or looking at what war does to some, you could spend hours discussing all that goes on here.

Fiennes gives a powerful performance as Caius, and certain scenes will enthrall the audience to where you can hear a pin drop in the movie theatre. While the townspeople’s anger at him is justified, Fiennes makes Caius seem like a war veteran who has done his patriotic duty only to be spat upon by the people he has defended. This is not some power hungry villain at play here but a man who feels he deserves more respect than he has been given. His flaw however is that he is incapable of respecting those he has spent time defending.

As a director, Fiennes employs the same kind of shaky camerawork Kathryn Bigelow used to great effect in “The Hurt Locker” (which he made a cameo in). The bullets fly all over the place, and they sound like steel swords clashing with rage. He also gets the actors to speak the Shakespearean language in a natural tone while giving those with bigger parts a chance to show off their amazing theatricality. The tone is a bit jarring at first, but everything comes together as the movie goes on.

Fiennes is also backed up immeasurably by an impeccable cast. Gerard Butler easily gives his best performance since “300” as Tullus whose anger at Caius equals his passion for his people. Jessica Chastain, who has appeared in every other 2011 movie, is a strong presence as Caius’ wife Virgilia. But the movie’s best performance comes from Redgrave who is a powerhouse as Caius’ mother. She captures her character’s controlling and manipulative nature to where she doesn’t just bring her son to his knees but the audience’s as well.

“Coriolanus” does meander a bit and threatens to bite off more than it can chew, but it is a powerful experience nonetheless. Kudos to Fiennes who picked quite the project to mark his directorial debut with as any lesser director would have easily failed in adapting such complex material. Some would have started with something easier, but not the man who played Lord Voldemort!

* * * ½ out of * * * *