The Count of Monte Cristo Review
by Homer Yen (homer_yen AT yahoo DOT com)January 29th, 2002
"Monte Cristo" – Down for the Count
by Homer Yen
(c) 2002
Sometimes, nothing is as sweet as revenge, especially in the world of movies. Someone does you terribly wrong, and you plan a delicious form of payback. Yes, it's certainly fun to watch as the hero schemes and exacts his own splendid style of requital. The problem with this film, however, is that for much of the time, the actors seem to be having more fun than the audience is.
Having the most fun is Guy Pearce who plays Mondego. He is the spoiled son of an aristocrat with an odious demeanor and tremendous sense of vanity. Mondego is the kind of oily villain that would snicker in cruel delight as he ties a damsel to the train tracks while twirling his handlebar moustache. Or, he might unjustly frame his best friend for treason in order to get at his beautiful girlfriend.
So, it's hard not to feel sorry for Edmond Dantes (Jim Caviezel), who is a good-hearted commoner and best friend of Mondego. He overlooks his faults, strives for his own personal best, and loves beautiful Mercedes (Polish actress Dagmara Dominczyk), whom Mondego covets grievously. It's not that Mondego wants Mercedes because he likes her; he wants her only because Edmond has her and he does not. Our vapid hero is too naïve to see he is about to be betrayed. Dantes is soon imprisoned, banished to the foreboding Chateau D'If for the remainder of his life.
What the audience might expect at this point is a riveting drama in which Dantes plans his escape as well as his method of revenge on those who have stripped away his life. After all, the story itself is a classic about conflict and revenge, rebirth and redemption. The novel builds on the friction between one person who is noble in birth but has nothing and one who is noble in character and seems to have everything. The arrogant Mondego needs to be taught a lesson in humility. And there are others like the malicious prison warden that mercilessly whips him and the corrupt magistrate that unjustly imprisoned him that need to be dealt with. We demand drama and an ending that made revenge flicks like "Titus" or "Dangerous Liaisons" something to savor.
Instead, we seem to get a lot of comic relief and an irritating feeling of camp.
There are some individual accomplishments that should be noted. Jim Caviezel shows good range and may finally establish his net worth here as a fine actor, transforming himself from a milquetoast lad filled with optimism to a mysterious Count filled with cunning and hate. Richard Harris is regal as a prison mate who schools Dantes in the art of being a gentleman, scholar and warrior. And Luis Guzman is hilariously out of place as the Count's sidekick.
Leaving the theatre, the patrons seemed divided over whether they felt this to be a moderately enjoyable experience or a slightly aggravating one. There was a smattering of appreciation for the film's sense of adventure and atmosphere as well as a few groans, which stemmed from a distinct feeling of outrageous histrionics and an overwhelming feeling of mediocrity. I side with those that groaned. The film spent more time parrying when it should have been thrusting. As a result, while the swords remained sharp, revenge felt dull.
Grade: C
S: 1 out of 3
L: 0 out of 3
V: 2 out of 3
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