FILM

UK 2011 123 mins Dir: Ralph Fiennes Starring: Gerard Butler, Ralph Fiennes, Jessica Chastain, Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Cox, James Nesbitt

Anyone remember Richard Loncraine's 'Richard III' with Ian McKellen? Ralph Fiennes' directorial debut is rather less daring, but both films transpose the Bard effectively to modern civil war settings. In 'Richard III', it was a strife-torn alternate world 1930s Albion awash with the sinister trappings of fascism. Fiennes relocates 'Coriolanus' to 'a place calling itself Rome' that resembles a '90s Balkan war zone. Indeed, the film was shot mostly in Serbia.

As one might expect, the result is a feast of proper-job acting from some of our Top Thesps (plus the Phantom of the Opera himself, Gerard Butler), with multi-tasking, Voldemortesquely shaven-headed, frequently blood-stained Fiennes at his swaggering, glowering, venom-spitting best as Caius Martius - the war hero out of his depth in the world of politicking. Having led his troops to a great victory over the formidable enemy whose nobility he so admires, Volsces leader Tullus Aufidius (Butler), Caius Martius is persuaded - largely by his pushy, equally bellicose mother Volumnia (Redgrave) - that he deserves the reward of high political office. But overweening pride and open contempt for the proles prove to be his undoing, along with the wily, scheming likes of Tribune Sicinius (Nesbitt).

Fiennes doesn't stint on the battlefield brutality, while 'Hurt Locker' cinematographer Barry Ackroyd's hand-held camera style gives this classic tragedy the feel of a modern action film. The obvious contemporary resonances are never laboured, though Fiennes has crowds recording Caius Martius on their mobile phones and TV chatshow guests debating his prospects. John Logan's skilful script also respects the rhythm and power of Shakespeare's words. You may never get another chance to see Jon Snow reading a version of Channel 4 news in iambic pentameter. (Robin Askew)

Website http://weinsteinco.com/sites/coriolanus/

Opens: January 20

Copyright Robin Askew 2012