Cyrano Review – Beautiful, Sensual, Romantic

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Category: Film

Published on Friday, 14 January 2022 17:25

Written by Janet Walker

Cyrano, from Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures, brings to the screen a reimagined version of the timeless tale of a love triangle, presenting the sorrow of unrequited love, the viciousness of the scorned and the elation of realizing love.

The film begins in a flurry as Roxanne, played by Haley Bennet, is rushing around the room preparing for her date with the Duke De Guiche, played by Ben Mendelsohn, as her chaperone, Marie, played by Monica Dolan, helps her dress, finding the appropriate shoes, making suggestions, and dispensing life advice on love and marriage.

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As they travel to the play, Roxanne is sidelined by the Duke's conversation with Valvert, played by Joshua James, as she sinks into the reality of her life and only hopes to find love, the kind that stays, that causes the other to profess they can't live without her and would be there forever.

At this point, as it is a musical, Roxanne begins to sing "Someone to Say," and as we see the longing she whispers is universal, as she enters the theater patrons each sing verses, from the esteemed of society to the poor, both male and female.

While Roxanne is seated in the stage box, Christian, played by Kelvin Harrison, Jr., walks to the stage mesmerized by her. She meets his eyes, looks aways, and then returns locking eyes.

As Jodelet, played by Tim McMullen, begins his performance, we hear from the distance a voice and see from the reaction it is identified as Cyrano, played by Peter Dinklage. He takes the theater and with his words causes Jodelet to run, off the stage, in fear.

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Cyrano, in addition to being an expert swordsman, is able to debate and defeat with his mastery of the language, and channel the feelings of the heart onto paper with an expertise that have all declaring his brilliance.

While on the stage, Valvert initiates a challenge beginning with typical words meant to demean and demoralize Cyrano. Then, he challenges him to a dual which Cyrano accepts. The two fight and Cyrano corners him, showing the audience that is still held in rapt attention, that while he could kill him, he lets him live. Valvert, now humiliated, rushes him, and falls on the sword.

With the evening ending, Cyrano meets up with Le Bret, played by Bashir Salahuddin, also a guard in the military, and the two begin talking about his obvious love for Roxanne. He remains convinced that his appearance renders the idea that Roxanne would love him, or society would accept him with her, mute and he is contented to remain her dearest and most cherished friend.

Of course, as the story goes, Roxanne falls instantly in love with the man at the theatre, Christian, and asks Cyrano to have him send her a letter. As Christian is more might than bright, he depends on Cyrano to present the words that only someone with his knowledge could, the words that woo, that move away from the common and become the romance that the restrictions of society forbid.

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We see as Cyrano has been given the opportunity to pour out his heart, the words flow freely, and the letters are many.

However, the nation is now at war and the guards of which Christian is one must go to the front.

Cyrano is a masterpiece, a symphony of words, music, and story. It so much more than a love triangle, interspersed with elements of comedy, the universality of the emotions, the heartbreak of loss, the unwillingness to risk.

The ensemble cast delivers captivating, and riveting, performances, and through the use of imagery, adds another visual layer of sensuality, richness. Director Joe Wright used many close-ups to capture the intensity of the moment and the emotive skill of the actors. The score created for the film is equally moving, capturing feeling and sentiment, while presenting rarely expressed and heartfelt male emotions, fear, love, desire.

A must see, Cyrano opens in select cities January 28, 2022. Check local listings.

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Country: USA.

Language: English.                                                                 

Runtime: 123minutes.

Release Date: January 28, 2022.

Director: Joe Wright.

Screenplay by: Erica Schmidt.

Based on: The stage musical adapted and directed by Erica Schmidt, from "Cyrano de Bergerac" by Edmond Rostand, with music by Aaron and Bryce Dessner and lyrics by Matt Berninger and Carin Besser.

Producers: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Guy Heeley.

Executive Producers: Erica Schmidt, Sarah-Jane Robinson, Sheeraz Shah, Lucas Webb, Matt Berninger, Carin Besser, Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, Kevin Ulrich, Aaron L. Gilbert, Jason Cloth.

Cast: Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Ben Mendelsohn, Bashir Salahuddin, Monica Dolan, Tim McMullen, Joshua James.