An excellent modern day version by Fiennes

Rating: 8/10 (5 February 2012)

I enjoyed this version a lot. I wasn't that familiar with the Coriolanus plot so it was interesting to see the story develop about a very good general who becomes a very bad politician.
The film uses Shakespeare's dialogue but it is set in modern times. However it still resonated for me as we see the influence of populist politics and politicians in the affairs of state.
The plot is about a general who wins a great victory and is selected to be the next consul of Rome. However he regards the ordinary people with little more than contempt and his obvious discomfort in even pretending to compromise in this belief results in his banishment. There is a great scene set in a TV studio where Coriolans confronts those opposed to him in something not far removed from the Jerry Springer show. He then unites with a former enemy of Rome in order to gain his revenge.
I'm not Fiennes' biggest fan and I thought he over egged the pudding in a few of his speeches. Too much spittle and not enough subtlety perhaps, though the character of Coriolanus is not a very subtle man, either as a soldier or as a politician.
I loved Vanessa Redgrave as his powerful and influential mother. Brian Cox is also excellent as the decent Senator. Gerard Butler is also good as Coriolanus' sworn enemy turned ally, Aufidius.
The movie uses the familiar setting (from TV news) of modern war zones to demonstrate Coriolanus' best characteristics as a fearless soldier.
An excellent version of one of Shakepeare's lesser known plays