CAST: Ralph Fiennes (Caius Martius Coriolanus), Gerald Butler (Tullus Aufidius), Ashraf Barhom, Brian Cox (Menenius), James Nesbitt, Jessica Chastain (Virgili, wife of Coriolanus), Vanessa Redgrave (Volumnia, mother of Coriolanus); DIRECTOR: Ralph Fiennes SCREENWRITER: John Logan (adopted from William Shakespeare); PRODUCER: R. Fiennes & company; EDITOR: Nicholas Gaster MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Ilan Eshkeri; GENRE: Drama, Mystery & Suspense; CINEMATOGRAPHER: Barry Ackroyd; DISTRIBUTOR: Weinstein Company; LOCATION: United Kingdom; RUNNING TIME: 122 minutes
Technical Assessment: 4
Moral Assessment: 3
Cinema Rating: For viewers 14 years old and above
Coriolanus (Ralph Fiennes) is a tough Roman General who plays important role in fighting the civil unrest at the height of hunger in Rome. Impressed of his skills as soldiers, the politicians including her manipulative mother Volumnia (Vanessa Redgrave) make him their leaders where he realizes the plights of Roman people experiencing hunger and unrest. The politicians take his realization as a display of weakness and ineffectiveness as a leader and therefore accuse him of being a traitor. He turns his back from political allies and joins the side of the former enemy Aufidius (Gerard Butler) to whom Coriolanus offers his life and services for their cause. When his mother appeals for him to reconsider return to the service, Coriolanus breaks down to the dismay of Aufidius.
“Coriolanus” is an adaptation of Shakesperean’s play. Despite in modern times but successfully kept to the essence of the original story and delivery of significant lines. The director did a good job in bringing out the tough and soft sides of the characters in the film. The scene between the son and the mother is very well portrayed. The production design in camouflage is a bit over because it is not actually a war movie. But the fight and killing scenes can be very violent. Many of the bloody scenes are irrelevantly given close up shots. Nonetheless the musical scoring and sound effects are good. Overall, the film is seen with efforts to do well in the technical aspects however, there are lapses that overtaken these intentions.
There is honor in fulfilling a duty and for being of service to the people. But when the interest is questioned, a person is called to reflect and may need to make tough and/or unpopular decisions that may generate various reactions and direct opposition. In this crucial decision, betrayal is a common dilemma that a person must face. Coriolanus has experienced both being betrayed and being accused of betrayal. But in the end, he had the guts to face off with the circumstances of his actions.
