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 Going
to the movies in January is a lot like going to a breakfast buffet
at one o'clock in the afternoon: there's simply not much to choose
from. For example, since so many of December's limited releases don't
open wide until January, most of the studios don't even bother releasing
anything new to compete with so many Oscar contenders. What little
they do release isn't anything to write home about, and as a result,
January is seen as something of a cinematic dumping ground for less-than-promising
studio fare.
Despite the shortage in quality, there's always the chance that
a smaller film could come out of nowhere and—with the help
of counter-programming and lots of luck—catch moviegoers by
surprise. Last year, that movie was the Julia Stiles teen romance
Save the Last Dance, which opened amidst of flurry of Oscar
contenders and still achieved box office success to the tune of
over $91 million.
This year, that film just may be The Count of Monte Cristo.
Talk about a pleasant surprise, the latest adaptation of Alexandre
Dumas' classic story of love, betrayal, and revenge has everything
it needs to fit the bill as an old-fashioned, good-time Saturday
matinee. Thanks to picturesque scenery, top-notch action, strong
performances, and even a dash of humor, The Count of Monte Cristo
is a swashbuckling adventure that easily qualifies as the first
great movie of the new year.
Good-natured young sailor Edmond Dantes (Jim Caviezel) may not be
rich, but thanks to his love for the beautiful Mercedes (Dagmara
Dominczyk), he has everything he needs. His jealous best friend
Fernand (Guy Pearce) wants Mercedes for himself, so he conspires
with a villainous magistrate (James Frain) to frame Dantes and banish
him to the remote island prison Chateau D'If. For the next 13 years,
he becomes consumed by thoughts of vengeance, and when he finally
escapes, he reinvents himself into the French nobility as the wealthy
Count of Monte Cristo. With deft planning, he carries out his revenge
against the men who deceived him, but his bitter quest for retribution
threatens to blind him to the love he once knew.
Between feature films, TV movies, and various mini-series, there
are 18 versions of The Count of Monte Cristo listed on the
Internet Movie Database. Now admittedly, I haven't seen any of them,
nor have I read the classic book, so I have no basis for comparison.
That being the case, I was still thoroughly entertained and impressed
with the latest version as a stand-alone piece of work.
Director Kevin Reynolds is no stranger to period adventures, having
directed Kevin Costner in 1991's crowd-pleasing Robin Hood: Prince
of Thieves. The elements that made that film such a commercial
hit—the charismatic main character, the bad guy you love to
hate, the beautiful damsel in distress, and the edge-of-your-seat
action—are all here, and you simply can't help but get caught
up in the epic feel of the action and adventure.
Jim Caviezel has built quite an impressive resume as a solid performer
in films like The Thin Red Line and Frequency, but
The Count of Monte Cristo is by far his strongest performance
to date. He effortlessly makes the transition from wide-eyed, naive
youth to embittered, vengeful man, and there's no denying his charismatic
appeal. He also has great chemistry with Guy Pearce, who seems to
relish playing his spoiled, jealous, and former, best friend.
In many cases, it falls to the supporting cast members to keep the
film fun and light on its feet. Screen legend Richard Harris—whose
long beard makes him look like he hasn't shaved since Harry Potter
and the Sorcerer's Stone—plays Caviezel's long-time cell
mate who teaches him how to read, fence, and plan his escape. The
always reliable Luis Guzman provides the perfect amount of comic
relief and almost steals the show as Caviezel's right-hand-man,
and what would any period adventure be without a stunning, strong-willed
beauty, here played by Dagmara Dominczyk.
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