Coriolanus

Good grief what tosh. Go to Stratford, go to your local theatre, go to the pub but don't set aside an evening for Coriolanus. The performances are so weighty they sink the film.

This is an imaginative production by the BBC of a lesser known Shakespeare play. Setting it in a make-believe yet contemporary-feeling Rome gives it a compelling edge. The character portrayal, especially of Coriolanus and his ambitious mother, I found very searching. What drives our political leaders today? Can people really succeed in power while despising the people they rule? The shakespearean language, while in some ways incongruous in this modern setting, still came over well and at times was compelling listening. Its very style arrested attention. The rather gruesome picture of Fiennes (Coriolanus) used to promote the film may suggest it is more bloodthirsty than it is. There is a lot of violence, but more than that it questions violence.

brilliant visceral adaption. Modern setting DOES work well (IMHO). Cast is terrific really interpret the text so its understandable. Puts 'Hurt Locker' in the shade as a portrait of man at war.

This is not a perfect performance and it is a difficult play. The attempt to bring it up to date didn't really work as the dialogue was still set in ancient Rome and the whole point of Shakespeare is the action is painted in the words not acted out as an action movie. If you can set these things aside and concentrate on the play then this is worth watching. The whole play to my mind is about the character of Coriolanus and how he contrasts with the other characters, in particular the politicians who will say anything to get approval of the people, (just like today). Ralph Feines delivers a very powerful performance and shows the complexities of the man. A scene towards the end when he spits back the taunt of 'boy' is very moving. Some of the diction is poor with mumbled words, and the sound recording is not good in places, it sounds as though a single overhead mike was used in a room with a pronounced echo. Nevertheless it is a play worth seeing if you do not know it.

I made it about 5mins into this before I got bored. Shakespear and modern setting just doesn't work. Don't bother watching, waste of time.