it is something to be felt and to be enjoyed

Rating: 8/10 (8 June 2012)

I thoroughly enjoyed Ralph Fiennes directorial debut, this modernisation of Shakespeare's great tragedy is so powerful I hardly have words to describe it without coming across half-hearted and feeble but not only is his directorial debut a visceral study on the individual's internal struggle with pride and sense of self within the context of a modern, conflict-ridden society he stays true to the original text without any attempt to modernise it ,as some might, in an attempt to connect with today's, somewhat, literately-detached youth (I, of course, include myself in that group).
As Luhrmann has done before him Fiennes manages a modern re-telling without alienating the Shakespearian elite, without ridiculing or making a mockery of the text. Within his own performance and direction he has shown not only his 27 or so years experience in theatre but has shown his excellent ability to command the actors around him to push that extra ounce of emotion from their souls and into the performance, imitating those actions of his character during various battle scenes throughout the film. This is by far once of Fiennes' greatest performances.
The rest of the cast, as I've pertained to, were very good; Gerard Butler puts in a good performance as Aufidius though I found it a rather forgettable. Vanessa Redgrave plays the part of Volumnia, Coriolanus's mother, and her performance is something to marvel at, to be be seen with the eye and listened to with the ear for it is, again, not something I can idly describe here. I was utterly spellbound by her mere presence on screen and as she begins to speak I was left in awe. Jessica Chastain impresses as Coriolanus's wife Virgilia. I haven't had much opportunity to see her films, other than her performance in Malick's The Tree of Life which I adored, but there was a great vigour in her performance here which I had yet to see from her and she reads the archaic script as though it were all she has ever known.
I would, obviously, suggest that you watch this film. Do not try too hard to understand what is being said. Listen to the words, the rhythms, the poetry and feel the emotion and that unique power that only a Shakespeare play possesses. Shakespeare is not always something to be understood, it is something to be felt and to be enjoyed.