Coriolanus (2011)

In his directorial debut, Ralph Fiennes brings the beauty of Shakespeare to cinema through his explosive modern adaptation of Coriolanus. A legendary general, Coriolanus (Ralph Fiennes) fights valiantly for his country against the leader of the Volscian army; Aufidius (played by fantastically by Gerard Butler). Yet when the starving lower classes turn on their country’s hero, Coriolanus faces a tough decision, a decision that could prove costly.

Set in a modern day Rome, the gripping Shakespearean tragedy is brought to the audience’s doorsteps in terrifying documentary-style cinematography courtesy of the incredibly talented Barry Ackroy. The filming is fresh and neo-realistic, drawing audiences deeply into the action and gripping them with the heightened tension. The cinematography brings the traditional script to life in a way that is so unforgiving, grabbing audiences by the throat and refusing to let go in a way that so perfectly fits Coriolanus. The filming is incredible, getting into the heart of the fights, crowds and tender moments to draw out the story of Coriolanus, presenting the celebrated general but also portraying in heartbreaking subtleties the simple human with the Shakespearean hamartia, his ‘tragic flaw’.

The script has been adapted well for the film, although it does require some effort from the audience to pay attention, the rich Shakespearean English not being the easiest to understand, particularly for a modernised audience. However, Shakespeare is famous for the powerful monologues of his characters and this is reflected well in the film. Coriolanus’ speeches are expertly acted by Fiennes who easily conveys the driving passion of the general, creating an incredibly complex character, a scarred man with a tough shell but rocked with confusion and hurt. Fiennes’ wonderful acting is matched effortlessly by Gerard Butler who plays Coriolanus’ nemesis and leader of the Volscian army; Tullus Aufidius. He plays the character with the cold determination of the violent fighter, but also with the reluctant admiration that is found between many hero/villain pairings in Shakespeare and is an integral characterisation point of his political-tragedy plays.

The soundtrack is intense and heavy with drum, bass and sharp violins, twisting and blurring the lines between a traditional orchestra and a modern soundtrack, bringing Coriolanus further into the 21st Century and an adding extra depth to the epic action sequences.

Over and over again throughout the film Fiennes demonstrates his talent as a director, breathing new life into the play and bringing a fresh spin to a Shakespearean classic. He proves that Shakespeare can still be as powerful today as it was when first performed and that an adaptation can be done fantastically well for a modern audience. While it does need the audience to take a somewhat active role in following the plot with the admittedly complex language of Old-English, the visuals and incredible acting work in unison to create a breathtaking film that anyone could enjoy.