Coriolanus

Director: Ralph Fiennes Ralph Fiennes

Overview

Ralph Fiennes' directorial debut, Coriolanus, scripted by John Logan, updates one of Shakespeare's more difficult plays without sacrificing the Bard's original dialogue. Set in modern times, the movie stars Fiennes as the title character, a fierce General able to fight Rome's most dreaded enemies as well as quell civil unrest from a lack of food. When politicians convince Coriolanus to become a political leader, his natural fierceness and lack of political instincts lead to him being disgraced by other politicians and eventually forced to leave Rome after being branded a traitor. He then joins with his former enemies to invade Rome, and the only person who may be able to talk him out of this revenge plan is his mother (Vanessa Redgrave). The film, which features a portion of the play's dialogue transferred into the mouths of talking-heads on television news shows, played at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/29/2012
UPC:	0013132472195
Original Release:	2011
Rating:	R
Source:	LIONSGATE - 600000-AEC LGE
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:04:00
Sales rank:	39,242

Special Features

The making of Coriolanus ; Feature commentary by director Ralph Fiennes

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Ralph Fiennes	Caius Martius 'Coriolanus'
Gerard Butler	Tullus Aufidius
Vanessa Redgrave	Volumnia
Brian Cox	Menenius
Jessica Chastain	Virgilia
John Kani	General Cominius
James Nesbitt	Tribune Sicinius
Paul Jesson	Tribune Brutus
Lubna Azabal	First Citizen (Tamora)
Ashraf Barhom	Second Citizen (Cassius)
Zoran Cica	Citizen
Milos Dabic	Citizen
Nicolas Isia	Citizen
Zoran Miljkovic	Citizen
Marija Mogbolu	Citizen
Milan Perovic	Citizen
Nenad Ristic	Citizen
Lawrence Stevenson	Citizen
Marko Stojanovic	Citizen
Tamara Krcunovic	Citizen
Zu Yu Hua	Citizen
Olivera Viktorovic-Duraskovic	Citizen
Danijela Vranjes	Citizen
Slavko Stimac	Volsce Lieutenant
Ivan Dordevic	Young Roman Soldier
Radovan Vujovic	1st Soldier
Jovan Belobrkovic	2nd Soldier
Dan Tana	1st Senator
Miodrag Milovanov	2nd Senator
Dragan Micanovic	Titus Lartius
Radoslav Milenkovic	Volsce Politician
Radomir Nikolic	1st Volsce Soldier
Zoran Pajic	2nd Volsce Soldier
Harry Fenn	Young Martius
Elizabeta Dorevska	Maid
Dusan Janicijevic	Old Man in Corioles
Jon Snow	TV Anchorman
Nikki Amuka-Bird	TV Pundit
David Yelland	TV Pundit
Andrija Maricic	3rd Senator
Svetislav Goncic	4th Senator
Uros Zdjelar	Young Senator
Bora Nenic	Cleaner in Corridor
Slobodan Ninkovic	War Vet
Mona Hammond	Jamaican Woman
Slobodan Pavelkic	Young Man in Market
Dragoljub Vojnov	Shopkeeper
Keiron Jecchinis	TV War Correspondent
Mirko Pantelic	Camp Barber
Lisa Zane	Performer
Ilan Eshkeri	Composer
Paul Saunderson	Composer

Technical Credits

John Logan

Ralph Fiennes	Director,Producer
John Logan	Screenwriter,Producer
Julia Taylor-Stanley	Producer
Colin Vaines	Producer
Gabrielle Tana	Producer
Robert Whitehouse	Executive Producer
Marko Miskovic	Executive Producer
Anthony Buckner	Executive Producer
Norman Merry	Executive Producer
William Young	Executive Producer
Christine Langan	Executive Producer
Christopher Figg	Executive Producer
Misko Stevanovic	Production Manager
Aleksandar Leka Tadic	Production Manager
Rowley Irlam	Stunts
Jason Troughton	Special Effects Supervisor
Susanna Lenton	Script Supervisor
Ray Beckett	Sound Mixer

Editorial Reviews

Recasting Shakespeare in modern terms is a tricky but necessary conceit. To keep these immortal works associated in people's minds only with Elizabethan England is to miss how universally powerful many of them still are. Screenwriter John Logan achieves something close to greatness with this version of Coriolanus, and first-time director Ralph Fiennes assembles a stellar cast while following through on the best elements of the script. Fiennes also stars as the title character, a Roman general initially named Caius Martius, who lives only to fight and has no other ambitions or goals. As the movie opens, he's putting down civil unrest and expressing his disgust for the people of Rome at the same time. Soon after, he fights against Rome's greatest foreign enemies, led by Tullus Aufidius (Gerard Butler), an enemy general and possibly the only person the title character has any admiration for at all. Returning home a hero, Caius is bestowed the title of Coriolanus, and he becomes a national symbol used by politicians for their advantage during a period when food is scarce and anger at the government is high. Coriolanus, despite sage advice from his mother (Vanessa Redgrave) and his lone political ally Menenius (Brian Cox), has neither the psychological nor emotional equipment to be a crowd-pleasing politico, and he ends up banished from his country. At this point, he joins forces with Tullus in order to invade and overthrow Rome. Anyone convinced they can't understand or enjoy Shakespeare is still likely to be drawn in by how modern this adaptation looks. The action is often presented as part of a 24-hour cable newscast, with talking heads arguing the issues of the day. This brilliant decision gives the film a thoroughly contemporary feeling and allows the complex issues and motivations to remain crystal clear for the audience. The fighting sequences specifically recall not only Iraq War footage, but such recent war films as The Hurt Locker (Barry Ackroyd was the cinematographer on both movies). Inevitably, though, any Shakespeare adaptation's success rests largely with the actors, and on that count Coriolanus is a marvel. Fiennes glowers and scowls, his barely repressed rage often simmering into terrifying rants -- an element of the character that's showcased in the scene that gets him ostracized from Rome. The always reliable Brian Cox plays the political mastermind who knows that any effort to tame this warrior will fail, but tries anyway. Butler is about the only actor who comes up short, but that's primarily because his hard stares and intensity can't compare with Fiennes. As good as all the men are, it's Vanessa Redgrave who steals the movie. As Coriolanus' overly supportive mother, she makes one final attempt to stop her revenge-minded son from following through with his plan to invade Rome. It's a spectacular scene because this older woman seems to be the only one physically and mentally strong enough to stand up to her son. She's marvelous, and Fiennes matches her, signaling in the subtlest of ways how this woman can get past his deep levels of aggression. It's a warped mother-and-son relationship that, as played by these two masterful actors, is simultaneously beautiful and disturbing. Coriolanus has never been considered one of Shakespeare's greatest plays, and while this particular adaptation probably won't do anything to alter its status as a lesser work, it certainly announces that Ralph Fiennes has the skill and imagination to be a director, if for no other reason than because he knows to surround himself with people as talented as Logan, Ackroyd, and Redgrave. Unlike his character, he understands that humility often leads to strength.