REVIEW: "CORIOLANUS"

Still from Coriolanus

If there's one Human Truth one can take away from Ralph Fiennes' directorial debut Coriolanus, it would be the importance of living your own life. The Action-Drama takes modern sensibility, edgy (albeit shaky) Cinematography, outstanding acting and delivers William Shakespeare's lesser-known Play with some bloody, violent gusto.

The Film centers on Coriolanus (Fiennes), a Roman General who at once is celebrated and loathed by his people.  Under the pressure of his controlling Mother Volumnia (Vanessa Redgrave), he is given little choice but to advance to the position of Consul.  After failing to win the hearts of Romans and thus their requisite votes, he reacts angrily and finally is banished from Rome. Coriolanus, leaves behind his beloved Mother, his Wife Virgilia (Jessica Chastain) and Son Martius (Harry Fenn) to form a shocking alliance with his Arch-Nemesis Aufidius (Gerard Butler).  Alas, our Hero's loyalties are tested to the extreme when his Family returns to confront him, but has Coriolanus reached the point of no return?

Point blank, Coriolanus isn't for everyone.  Some fans of Contemporary Cinema simply won't connect with John Logan's Screenplay, which faithfully is Shakespearean; this of course, bodes well for Enthusiasts. Some may even react queasily to the copious amount of violence seen on-screen, but in the end, the Film raises generates some interesting thoughts about Free Will, Betrayal and the cost of Ambition.

ENTER TO WIN A DOUBLE PASS TO SEE AN ADVANCE SCREENING OF "CORIOLANUS"

Still from Coriolanus

With both Jessica Chastain and Vanessa Redgrave already winning Best Supporting Actress awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and San Francisco Film Critics respectively, Coriolanus is already stamping itself as a Contender this Awards Season.

The Directorial Debut from Oscar Winner Ralph Fiennes, also starring himself, made its rounds at TIFF in September and already is appearing in a number of Best-of Lists. The William Shakespeare Adaptation centers around a fallen Roman Hero named Coriolanus (Ralph Fiennes) who allies with a sworn enemy in Tullus (Gerard Butler) to take his revenge on the City. 

D Films releases Coriolanus on January 20, 2012. Click here to watch its exclusive Canadian Trailer.

To enter to win a pair of passes to see the Film on January 18, 2012 at Varsity Cinema, click "like" on this Post at Mr. Will-W.:Pop Maven on Facebook before January 10, 2012.  You may also Re-Tweet the following (you must be following @mrwillw) to qualify:

Mr. Will-W. wants to take me to see D Films' Coriolanus, opening in theatres 1/20/12. #MRWILLWCORIOLANUS

Remember to:
Follow D Films on Twitter here.
Like D Films on Facebook here.

Shall we re-live the time we met both Stars Jessica Chastain, Gerard Butler and Brian Cox back in September?

REVIEW: LETTERS TO JULIET

Amanda Seyfried is quickly becoming one of Hollywood's hottest new actresses and after watching Letters To Juliet, I could not help but be reminded of a young Michelle Pfeiffer with her engaging demeanour and pensive eyes. The film centers around Sophie (Seyfried) who decides to go on a trip to Italy with her fiancé Victor (Gael Garcia Bernal). They both have very different agendas though. Victor is a Restauranteur there to do research. Seyfried, a Writer and Fact Checker by-day is there simply to enjoy herself and the gaps in her relationship with Victor become more and more apparent throughout their trip.

Sophie one day decides to visit Casa Di Giulietta (Juliet's House) where heartbroken women leave letters stuck to its wall in hopes of getting romantic advice back - a longtime tradition. She stumbles upon a team of women, or Juliet's Secretaries, who actually respond to these letters in writing and Sophie is fascinated by this. She stumbles upon a 50 year-old letter from a British woman named Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) who missed out on an opportunity for true love while visiting Italy in her youth. Sophie makes it a mission to help Claire find her true love Lorenzo, but she is met with challenge from her grandson Charlie (Christopher Egan), who is afraid to see his grandmother get hurt.