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THE
COUNT OF
MONTE CRISTO |
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"Perseverance -
Revenge - Justice -
Friendship - Love" |
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Directed by Kevin
Reynolds - Written by
Jay Wolpert
Starring Jim Caviezel,
Guy Pearce, Richard
Harris, Dagmara
Dominczyk
Distributed by Buena
Vista - 2001 - 120m -
Rated PG |
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This is a wonderful story that will live on in film for many years and
this version is worthy of the title. |
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An old fashioned epic
retelling of the classic novel by Alexandre Dumas. This is a story of
injustice, perseverance, revenge and redemption. It was one of my
favorite stories as a child and as a result shaped my preference for
this kind of story. Other films that I love in this vein include; The
Great Escape, Escape from Alcatraz, The Shawshank Redemption, & all
the other tales of this famous Count. The film begins with Edmund
Dantes (Caviezel) returning home with his best friend Fernand Mondego
(Pearce) after a long voyage. Edmund is carrying a letter from the
exiled and imprisoned Napoleon Bonaparte and is to deliver it to an
unknown man. However, Edmund is unaware that he is carrying
information that implicates many important people in an attempt to
rescue and return the exiled ruler.
Edmund and Fernand are childhood friends and return on their ship to
find out that Edmund has been promoted to Captain. This is yet another
thing that Fernand has to be jealous about. He is already obsessed
with Edmund's fiancé, Mercedes, played nicely by Dagmara Dominczyk.
The mischievous Fernand, knowing about the dangerous letter, reports
the information to the magistrate Villefort and condemns his lifelong
friend to punishment for a traitorous act.
Edmund is wrongly imprisoned in Château D'If, a place where they send
the innocent criminals that they are ashamed of convicting. They send
them there because it is a remote and desolate island from which there
is no escape and no news. The inmates are forgotten forever. Edmund's
family, friends and fiancé are told of his execution for treachery and
they are left to go on with their lives thinking he is gone forever.
Years pass and Edmund is losing hope in his isolated cell, but, one
day, the stones in his cell floor begin to move and out pops the head
of an old man named Faria (Harris). He had been tunnelling for years
from his own cell and "alas, had gone the wrong way." They form a
friendship and a bargain. For Edmund's man power in another tunnel
attempt Faria would return the favor by teaching Edmund all he
knows... how to read and write, to understand politics, economics and
philosophy, and to fight with a sword.
I will not reveal what happens next, but needles to say when Edmund
finally does get out of his prison, he embarks on a long mission
filled with vengeance and redemption. This is a wonderful story that
will live on in film for many years and this version is worthy of the
title.
Some other critics have criticized Jim Caviezel for his subdued
portrayal of Edmund Dantes. I salute him for his work. The restrained
anger he exudes is very powerful in a role where overacting could be
very easy. He is the star of this film and carries the bulk of the
running time. His transformation from the humble and kind Edmund to
the lavish, exuberant, hateful and confident Count of Monte Cristo is
remarkable and deserves to be praised.
The direction is supremely paced. Something is always happening on
screen. The story is complex and comprehensive and squeezes all the
events in under two and a half hours, which is quite an
accomplishment. At no point will you feel that the story is lagging or
hurried.
This story can seem dark and vengeful but the director intersperses
many lighthearted moments to lift the tension from time to time... a
welcome surprise. Luis Guzman plays The Count's right hand man and
gets many of the laughs. Also the ways in which Edmund gets his
revenge is just and laudable. I watched the film in a packed house and
there were many rounds of applause toward the end of the film. Never
do we feel that the revenge is gratuitous or mean. This film will make
you feel good in the same way The Shawshank Redemption did.
Guy Pearce plays his character, Fernand, like a cartoon villain and
that comes across a little silly. I would have appreciated more
character development with him. He seems mean just for the sake of
it... no real reasons are put forth for us to understand why he would
betray his lifelong friend and go after his fiancé. That is a minor
quibble though as the story is not his but Edmund's.
When a film starts with a story as good as this one it is hard to
steer it wrong. This is a classic tale that will enthral new fans and
completely satisfy those who are familiar with it. Highly
Recommended!!! |
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© Written by TC Candler -
Email Me! |
Richard
Propes' Comment
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Hall's Comment
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