Coriolanus - movie review

Coriolanus is one of the lesser known of Shakespeare's plays, which debutante director Ralph Fiennes (by no means a stranger to Hollywood  has adapted into a film, with some interesting changes. The movie is set in what looks like modern times - with TV news channels, mobile communication, modern arms and ammunition; but the language used by the protagonists is Shakespearean. Let me repeat this - Shakespearean. That's what makes the movie a difficult watch, it takes some time to get used to, but in general I could only comprehend about 40% of the dialogues. But never the less, the story is not difficult to understand. Coriolanus is the story of a military general Caius Martius(Fiennes) from a city that calls itself Rome, he is anointed with the title of Coriolanus for defending his city against the attack of the Volscian army led by Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler) in the battle of Corioles, but when Coriolanus runs for the post of Consul his pride and a general condescending attitude towards the people of the City of Rome lead to him being banished from the city. Coriolanus then vows revenge against the city whose loyal servant, he once was.

I will not give any more of that story out. Ralph Fiennes delivers a powerful performance, his expressions and his dialogue delivery gave me goose bumps. Ralph Fiennes has proved to the world again and again what a brilliantly versatile actor he is, his array of work probably is as diverse as it can get - the ruthless nazi in Schindler's List, the shy husband in The Constant Gardener, the hesitant and troubled man in The Reader, The menacing Voldemort in Harry Potter and now Coriolanus. Pity that he has been nominated for Oscar twice, but hasn't bagged one yet.

Vanessa Redgrave playing the role of Coriolanus' domineering mother also does justice to her character. One cannot but appreciate the work put in by the whole cast, to memorize the difficult dialogues and then deliver them with elegant poise.

There is an amount of willing suspension of disbelief expected of the audience to be able to appreciate the movie. After all  its an adaptation of a play written more than 400 years ago. But all in all I would still say, a Saturday night well spent.