Verdict:
I….I don’t like Shakespeare.
I tried him on multiple occasions and in multiple forms, and by now, I could write an essay on all the reasons why I don’t like Shakespeare.
However, Coriolanus the movie is very palatable and the lack of popularity of this movie puzzles me as much as the popularity of Shakespeare does.
There are some core problems. Some of the dialogue comes off as poetic nonsense, so that you have to pause and rewind to try and understand it. The wordy dialogues sometimes fail to explain basic story aspects, motivations or just can’t concentrate on the damn plot, making the movie feel on the slow side. This may not be Fiennes’ fault as Director but rather Shakespeare’s fault (or even the source Shakespeare stole from). For example, the two main men state that they want to be together and then repeatedly say that they hate each other, with no clear explanation for those polar opposite attitudes.
The general dialogue is nonetheless understandable enough so that one can follow it. It is helped by the good acting of everyone involved. Ralph Fiennes in the main role perfectly conveys the proud and unstable nature of the Roman general Coriolanus. His eyes alone could bleed you dry. Good casting.
The main hook of the movie is that it is Shakespeare in modern times, where Rome is shown in the style of a Western country while the Volsci neighbours are shown in a Balkan style. This works well, and the cultural styles are interesting to look at. A lot of handheld camera (though not shaky cam) makes things feel gritty and personal. Good cinematography overall, though the action scenes suffer from the modern trope of having too many cuts.
Th plot is noteworthy and original, in this day and age. There are no real villains, which is always refreshing to see. There is no cheesy love interest or a hero. The movie instead explores the clash between patriotism, personal pride and duty to your people. It is an off-beat story worth experiencing in the age of rehashed cookie-cutter content.
With so many movies being a copy of the same 4-chord pop song formula, this Shakespearean work is like a breath of fresh air, and works surprisingly well on screen. And on top of that, it is well-acted and, for most part, well shot.