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CORIOLANUS (15)
Synopsis: Shakespeare’s tale gets the big screen treatment
Who’s in it: Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler, Vanessa Redgrave
IT MAY not be Shakespeare’s most famous work but Coriolanus is still a fine play, so any attempt to bring it to the big screen should be welcomed.
Ralph Fiennes has tasked himself with the challenge as both actor and director in this modern take on the tragedy.
Coriolanus, a Roman war hero among his own people for his decisive victories over his enemies, is suddenly banished after running for political office and stamping down on the people.
In true Shakespeare tradition he is keen on revenge and to get it he joins forces with the very enemies he had once been fighting.
The language has been lifted straight from the play but the Balkan setting is more up to date and Fiennes does a stirling job of making this lesser know play relevant for a modern audience.
With subjects such as warfare and rioting being key it’s easy to relate to what is going on and we should give Shakespeare credit here as that shows how timeless his work really is.
Having said that, Fiennes doesn’t tinker with the play too much or steer away from its key themes like others have done with their recreations.
This means that those who feel that you shouldn’t change the classics will also be left happy by this intriguing adaptation.
Any Shakespeare film needs a strong cast and Coriolanus has that, starting with Fiennes who is convincing as he portrays the tortured mind of the film’s title character.
Also noteworthy are Gerard Butler, who is at his best as supposed enemy Aufidius, and Vanessa Redgrave who excels as Coriolanus’ influencing mother. All in all this is well worth a watch. The story may have been written in the 1600s but it still has the ability to suck people in from the start.
Rating 7/10
THE SITTER (15)
Synopsis: A college reject whose life is going nowhere is appointed as a babysitter.
Who's in it: Jonah Hill, Max Records, Ari Graynor, Method Man
YOU only need to read the synopsis of this film to know that everything is going to end in tears.
Jonah Hill plays said reject Noah and quite how someone who was chucked off his course landed such a gig is anyone’s guess, but we’ve got to go with it and stupid plots like this usually provide the odd laugh.
The Sitter does have its moments, but the storyline is so absurd that it becomes hard to take seriously, even for a comedy.
It’s a bit like Home Alone but we don't get a young Macaulay Culkin setting up hilarious booby traps in a house.
We do get debauchery and hijinks, however, the film’s not quite funny enough to get away if it – it just isn't big and it isn't clever.
Rating: 4/10
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