‘Cyrano’ – Review
Multi-award winning actor Peter Dinklage brings a dramatic soul and vigor to the big screen in a performance that captures the essence of a timeless literary character in Joe Wright’s operatic and flamboyant musical Cyrano, and this is a story that will set your heart alight thanks to the power of its narrative and the presence of its performers.
This musical adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s classic play tells the story of Cyrano de Bergerac (Peter Dinklage) as he pines for the affections of the beautiful Roxanne (Haley Bennett), who has fallen in love with another man named Christian de Neuvillette (Kelvin Harrison Jr.). Though Cyrano understands that his social status and physical appearance will forever keep him apart from his love, he offers his skills as a gifted poet to Christian in an effort to bring him and Roxanne together once and for all.
When it comes to the annuals of literary history one work is lofted high above all else. Edmond Rostand’s 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac is regarded as one of the greatest ever achievements in literary circles and its central character, a libertine rogue by the name of Cyrano de Bergerac, one of the most well-rounded literary characters ever conceived. It is now with grand timing, and a considerable level of panache that director Joe Wright, a filmmaker who is well regarded for the visual splendour of his cinema, brings Cyrano’s tale to the silver screen and the completed piece is nothing short of a work of art. Taking audiences back to the rough and tumble France of the 17th century, Cyrano brings music, dance and a grand choir of voices to this incredible character and it is an utterly marvellous spectacle to witness.
Balancing character, narrative and marvellous visuals, Wright takes audiences on a galivanting adventure of romance, passion and desire as he re-introduces a modern audience to France’s greatest ever Renassasiance Man. Through the combination of the musical with the historical, Wright crafts a radically different kind of musical experience. It’s very rare that audiences are treated to a film this intricate in its detail and it’s an entirely unique experience. Wright draws upon a vast array of inspirations to bring Cyrano’s tale to life and looks to ideas of Broadway and opera, ballet and hip-hop, historical action and sweet romance and the resulting images will have your eyes wide with awe. Through his commitment to characterization and narrative, he crafts a story that is both historical and modern all at the same time and offers up a treatise on the very notions of romance and love.
From the visual standpoint, Cyrano is an absolute treat for the eyes, and audiences who are lucky to witness it will be transported to another time and place of absolute luxury and decadence. Dripping with baroque lavishness and rococo detailing, Cyrano takes audiences to the palatial villas and opulent salons of Paris and Wright paints the canvas with a collection of soft pinks, oranges, peaches, blues and whites, and this detail, intricately photographed by cinematographer Seamus McGarvey whose eye for natural light leaves the film feel natural and real. Lavish costumes, such as the beautiful flowing gowns worn by Hayley Bennett’s Roxanne and designed by Jacqueline Durran and period-correct hairstyling and make-up only add to the spectacle and almost ethereal-fairytale quality of Wright’s story and this incredible production has all the detailings of a Fragonard painting.
Cast as the lead character is multi-award-winning actor Peter Dinklage and he is utterly perfect in the role. Known for his ability to slip into characters and balance heavy emotions with the language of drama, Dinklage makes for a superb Cyrano, and his’ is a performance that rings true to the character of this now legendary man. A poet, raconteur, quarrelsome troublemaker, romantic and the greatest swordsman in all of France, Dinklage leans heavily into the romantic leanings of the character and his one true motivation in life, his love and passion for the unrequited love of his dear Roxanne. While his talent as a poet might speak to her, and there’s is a relationship formed of friendship and longing, the underlying romance is lost on him to her and in this work we see Cyrano facilitating a way to live through another so that his love might be quenched. Dinklage produces a keen interest in the audience of Cyrano’s journey throughout the film and this is a character who will truly move you as an audience member.
As the subject of our title character’s long-held affections is Hayley Bennett’s Roxanne, a care-free, high-spirited beauty who longs for love above all else and who desires it on her terms. Bennett gives Roxanne an ingenue innocence, but in the telling of the story, we see that she is a much more complicated character than first expressed and Bennett’s performance truly grows on you. Her performance of Roxanne is a character who thrives on love and its expression, and there’s an erotic undercurrent that is present in her performance. Just like Dinklage, Bennett brings her entire self to the expression of Roxanne’s character and she makes a considered love interest and foil for our titular character.
Those with an appetite for music and dance will also be well rewarded by Cyrano and there are some incredible musical numbers. All four principal actors, Peter Dinklage, Hayley Bennett, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Ben Mendelsohn express themselves through the performance of song and these musical numbers are a grand way to deliver the narrative of Cyrano to an all-new audience. There is a liveliness and intelligence to the musical numbers that are expressed in Cyrano and they are transportative in their construction and presentation.
Given the presence of this whirlwind narrative of love and devotion, you are sure to be in tears at its ending and Cyrano is far and away one of the year’s best films. Beautiful to look on, packed to the brim with amazing performances and possessing a story that gets to the heart of why we love, it’s an utterly unforgettable work of art and a true testament to the character of the legendary Cyrano de Bergerac.
Image: Universal Pictures
