The Count of Monte Cristo Review
by Shannon Patrick Sullivan (shannon AT morgan DOT ucs DOT mun DOT ca)February 5th, 2002
THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (2002) / ***
Directed by Kevin Reynolds. Screenplay by Jay Wolpert, based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas pčre. Starring James Caviezel, Guy Pearce, Dagmara Dominczyk. Running time: 131 minutes. Rated PG for mature theme by the MFCB. Reviewed on February 4th, 2002.
By SHANNON PATRICK SULLIVAN
Synopsis: Low-born Edmund Dantes (Caviezel) and aristocrat Fernand Mondego (Pearce) are lifelong friends. The envious Mondego, however, desires Dantes' fiancee, Mercedes (Dominczyk) for himself, and frames Edmund for treason. Dantes is sentenced for life to a remote dungeon. There, however, he meets the venerable Faria (Richard Harris), who knows the location of a fabulous treasure. Dantes could use it to consummate his revenge -- if only he could escape his prison.
Review: "The Count Of Monte Cristo" is an entertaining adventure romp which harkens back to the Golden Age of Hollywood. It's not hard to imagine watching it on a Saturday morning, with Errol Flynn or Douglas Fairbanks replacing Jim Caviezel in the title role. But even viewed in a modern context, "Monte Cristo" does not feel dated. It's simply a good story told well, and that's a timeless recipe for success. Ironically, the lone real nod to the present is "Monte Cristo"'s least successful element. Luis Guzmán plays Jacopo, the Count's right-hand man; unlike the rest of the characters, comic relief Jacopo speaks and acts with a distinctly modern sensibility. Were this version of "Monte Cristo" more of a pastiche than a straight adaptation of the novel, Guzmán's portrayal may have seemed less out of place. As it is, it sticks out like a sore thumb against the largely straightforward performances of the rest of the cast. This is not to suggest that the others approach the film too seriously, though. Caviezel and Pearce in particular are clearly having enormous fun with their roles, delivering lines of dialogue as if sinking their teeth into a fine meal. Between them, they give us a hero to root for and a villain we love to hate. This may not be filmmaking at its most avant-garde, but it sure is a lot of fun.
Copyright © 2002 Shannon Patrick Sullivan.
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