Corelli's All At Sea!

Rating: 4/10 (4 May 2001)

The first of this year's blockbusters is a major disappointment. The main problems with the film are the dubious accents of all the main actors and the complete lack of on-screen chemistry between the lovers, Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz. The only person to come out of this sorry mess with some sort of credibility is John Hurt.
Nicolas Cage is completely miscast as Captain Corelli. Penelope Cruz is a fine actress but is not called upon to do much here except look enchanting and vulnerable, which as you would expect she does with ease. Let's hope that she doesn't foresake her film career in Spain where she has had considerable success, for the bright lights of Hollywood.
I haven't read the book so I am unable to make any comparisons with the film, but I guess that those people who have will be in for a shock.
The film does have one good thing going for it and that is the photography which is stunning.The Greek Tourist Industry will be anticipating a rush on holidays to it's islands this summer.
The film will do well at the Box Office due mainly to the usual Hollywood Hype, but it remains to be seen if this can be sustained once "word of mouth" gets around.