“Coriolanus “is a film adaptation of a Shakespeare play, which I confess I had never heard of. But we decided a bit of culture for a change would do us no harm 
The line up includes: Ralph Fiennes as Coriolanus, Gerard Butler as Tullus Aufidius, Vanessa Redgrave as Volumnia, Brian Cox as Menenius, Jessica Chastain as Virgilia, John Kani as General Cominius[3], James Nesbitt as Sicinius[4] and Paul Jesson as Brutus. With a surprise appearance of Jon Snow as a TV newsman!
The film begins with riots being held in Rome because grain is being withheld from the people. Caius Martius (Coriolanus), a Roman General is being blamed for this by the citizens. He says the plebians are not worthy of the grain because of their lack of military service. Meanwhile Brutus and Sicinius are working in the background to denounce Martius.
Martius leave Rome shortly after to fight his enemy, the commander of the Volscian army, Tullus Aufidius. The two meet face to face and agree to fight one to one. However, war is raging around them and they reach a stalemate when both are knocked unconscious. However, Martius has led his men well in the war, and gets the better of the enemy. On his return to Rome, this is recognised, and he is given the cognomen Coriolanus.
Coriolanus’ ambitious mother, Volumnia, wants him to run for Consul now. He’s unwilling at first, but then agrees to do as his mother wishes. He appears to have the support of the Senate and the people initially, but in the background Brutus and Sicinius are still scheming and manage to get everyone not only to oppose him, but have him banished from Rome as well.
He wanders through Italy until he reaches his enemy Tullus Aufidius, asking him to put a knife through him. Instead, Aufidius asks him to join his army and lead them to Rome. Coriolanus agrees and the army advances. Various people are sent from Rome to talk to Coriolanus but he won’t listen. Eventually his mother, his wife and his son arrive to talk to him. Initially he won’t hear them. But his mother is eventually successful in getting him to agree to a peace treaty.
Once the treaty has been signed in Rome, Coriolanus is seen returning to Aufidius, but is killed for his betrayal to the Volscians.
I was expecting this film to be pretty hard going. It was at times, but for the most of it, I was caught up in the story. The actors were all credible, and fitted their characters well. Really enjoyed this film. Thumbs up from me.
