Film Review - The Count of Monte Cristo
Images courtesy of Palace Films
The Count of Monte Cristo, directed and written by french duo Alexandre de La Patelliere and Matthieu Delaporte, is a three hour epic worthy of the source material. Not an easy novel to tackle, this french duo first tested their skills by writing and directing another of Alexandre Dumas’ books The Three Musketeers (in the 2023 two part saga D’Artagnan and Milady), already considered one of the best adaptations of the tale. Although the book is more complicated in plot and characters, the tale miraculously survived the inevitable refinement of the story but still packs a punch; it’s charming, well-paced and bold in its visuals.
To put it succinctly, the story is a masterclass in one thing - revenge. Following Edmond Dantes’ betrayal at the hands of four men, we see him unjustly imprisoned and then later rise as the self-titled Count of Monte Cristo a mere 20 years later. It is not a story containing an especially unique plot - in fact the story is the grandaddy of revenge - but the movie's power is not in its uniqueness, but in its commitment to the bit. Revenge is dramatic, bloody and slow - to then couple that with a man harbouring a 20 year grudge… the directors understood that this called for theatrics. In fact, the theatrics are easily the best parts of the film: Monte Cristo swearing to the gods above that he will become the angel of revenge, the dramatic dinner party full of riddles, ghosts and untold secrets, and the best part - his many disguises, from an italian Abbe to an English lord.
It’s rare to find a film that earnestly and honestly takes on the swashbuckling tale of revenge successfully emerges without becoming a cheesy, uncomfortable horror show. Of course there are elements that still feel a little tropey; the ending is almost too Hollywood as the writers/directors were looking for an explosive finale, but it’s forgivable because when it's served right, revenge is sweet.
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The Count of Monte Cristo is now screening in cinemas. For tickets and more info, click here.