Directed by: Ralph Fiennes
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Anchor Bay Entertainment
Release Date: May 29, 2012
Running Time: 124 minutes
Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars
I haven’t seen an Shakespeare adaption this good since “Titus”. The story of “Coriolanus” has been revamped and brought forward into modern times. Ralph Fiennes is not a good actor…he is an amazing actor. I mean have you seen him in the “Harry Potter” series and even Hades in “Titans” series. I know he’s won awards for other films in the past but those are my favorites. If you know the story then you know it is not for the squeamish. This film is bad-ass and is a mix of “Rambo” and “Fight Club”, with the dialogue of Shakespeare.
“Coriolanus” is also directed by Fiennes, job well done for sure. Fiennes is also not alone is this film though he is backed by a great supporting cast including Gerard Butler (“300”), Vanessa Redgrave (“Letters to Juliet”), Brian Cox (“Super Troopers”), Jessica Chastain (“The Help”) and James Nesbitt (“The Way”). It is a real team effort with this film and everyone pinches in there’s and more.
The story of “Coriolanus” is one of honor and betrayal, what else would you expect from Shakespeare. It follows Caius Martius aka Coriolanus (Fiennes), who is a Roman General, put up against his people who both respect yet fear him. Coriolanus, fed up against his power-hungry mother (Redgrave) and being rejected by his own people, starts a riot that gets him expelled from Rome. After being banished, he joins up with his enemy Tullus Aufidius (Butler) in order to get his revenge and meet his own destiny.
The Blu-ray presentation is very impressive. The 1080p transfer looks great and the audio sounds great with its DTS HD-MA 5.1 track, especially with the action scenes. The special features are not amazing but decent. There is a interesting/in-depth commentary from director/star Ralph Fiennes, I really love listening to him talk. Lastly there is a decent featurette “The Making of Coriolanus”. This release also comes packaged with a DVD a long side with the Blu-ray disc.