Coriolanus (2011)

Coriolanus (R) - Review

"Wherefore art thou?"

When a great soldier is cast out by his country due to political backlash and public disfavor, the stoic Coriolanus must join forces with his most hated of enemies to tear his way back to his home and family and honor.  Shakespeare's Coriolanus is transported to our time of war and terrorism from its ancient Roman roots and is adapted and directed by Ralph Fiennes (Schindler's List).  The intent survives well, and the juxtaposition with our times is admirable.  Ralph himself though just cannot bring enough menace/force/energy to the role as it feels it needs, Gerard Butler (300) is merely adequate as his frienemy Aufidius.  The guns, the violence, the blood spallter spark up the interest, and Shakespeare's riveting characterization of a doomed yet honorable man done wrong is great, but the sputtering Fiennes just cannot fill the shoes that were written.

5.5 Bards with Machine Guns out of 10 (MEDIOCRE)