Today's movie was the recent adaptation of "Coriolanus" directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes. I saw this play produced at the Old Globe in San Diego a few years ago and no doubt it's a difficult one. The characters are difficult for me to relate to somehow and the turn of events are rapid and were hard for me to understand, but I remember feeling more that Coriolanus was a victim of fate than I did in this film. Corilanus is a brilliant soldier, steadfast and loyal to his country but his only true interest, clearly instilled in him by his domineering mother, is war and the fighting of it. Coming back to Rome after his recent victory, he is promoted to General and Consul and must needs turn politician. Basically, he can't and he is goaded and played by his enemies, who clearly wrote the politician's handbook, until he is brought down by his pride and rejected by the people and banished. Because he refuses to be a flatterer, and reviles the citizens of the country that he is so patriotic for. He then joins the enemy camp, invades Rome, his mother shows up, gives an impassioned speech, he signs a peace treaty, and then is killed by his new comrades who have now branded him a traitor.
In Fiennes version, there is nothing likable about Coriolanus, which makes it difficult to root for him. His tragic flaw should be this honesty that he speaks of. In seeing the play before, there was this simplicity to him, and while he was rough and bloodthirsty, he was truly patriotic and happy being who he was and excelled at what he did. It wasn't his own ambition that moved him to seek a higher station but the will of the country he served and so he went along with it and that was his downfall. He was no longer able to be himself. It's not so much that he hates the citizens, but he only sees The State as a whole and has no interest in the individuals that make up that State and the politicians have a field day exploiting that. In Fiennes version, he really does seem to hate the people whereas I felt it should be more that he is uncomfortable being among the people. He's a fish out of water, and Fiennes comes off more as an arrogant bastard. So it's hard to tell who the good guys are and who the bad guys are.
There are some excellent performances in the film though. Gerard Butler as Aufidius, the enemy leader, I thought was sufficiently macho but accessible. Not to mention easy on the eyes. Can he please have more roles where he speaks in his proper Scottish burr, rowr! I actually would very much like him to play MacBeth. I think Branagh should direct a film version and cast him in the lead and Branagh could play Duncan , no Banquo! Oo I will have to work on the rest of this casting and then write to him. This could be brilliant. I digress. Vanessa Redgrave as Volumnia, Coriolanus mother, is electric. She just sinks her teeth in and gnashes and throws this part all over the place. Best thing in the movie. The lovely and charming James Nesbitt was perfectly cast against type as Tribune Sicinius, a devious and scheming politician. And Brian Cox as Menenius, a Senator and Coriolanus friend, is excellent. I would watch him do anything though. He is just one of those actors that is mesmerizing.
All in all, I give it a solid B. I thought it translated to the modern setting extremely well especially in our current disgusting politial environment, and clearly Fiennes is drawing parallels. He just has a different take on the character than I do. I'm not actually sure how he interprets him, as he comes across as unfeeling, somewhat robotic, the only person he lets that guard down with is his mother. To me, Coriolanus is a straightforward man in a corrupt environment whose guilelessness is misinterpreted as arrogance and pride and therefore has no place in this world. He lives for the ideal of Patriotism and as such he is a tool of The State, and unable to relate to the common people. And the people are manipulated by the politicians who are against him. It's a perverse and hideous cycle that leaves no room for honest, simple, deeply flawed men. Sound familiar?
