Rated R, 122 minutes
"Coriolanus" is the new military film directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes, though the source material is hardly new. It's based on the tragic Shakespeare play of the same name and while updated with contemporary references, it's still spoken in the King's English. Well-acted, sublimely directed by Fiennes and often mesmerizing, "Coriolanus" is a worthy, cerebral effort geared mostly for art-house audiences up for something like this. Caius Martius "Coriolanus (Fiennes) is a revered and feared Roman General at odds with the city of Rome and its citizens. Pushed by his controlling mother Volumnia (Vanessa Redgrave, in a stunning, memorable performance) to seek a higher postion, Coriolanus must engage himself with the masses to secure votes for office, something he loathes doing. When the public refuses to support Coriolanus, he's banished from the city and allies himself with a powerful enemy (Gerard Butler, scowling) that has tragic results for him and his family. "Coriolanus" is an auspicious directorial feature film debut for British actor Fiennes, best known to the masses as Voldemort in the "Harry Potter" series. The plot is thick and you must listen closely to the age-old dialogue, but overall it's a satisfying, if not, downbeat, effort, especially if you're familiar with Shakespeare's tragedies. Brian Cox and the ubiquitous, recently Oscar-nominated Jessica Chastain round out the great cast.
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