Review: ‘The Count Of Monte Cristo’

They say people will do anything for love. The hope is that they’re referring to things that lean more positive, maybe something outlandish straight out of a romcom. Unfortunately for Edmond Dantès (Pierre Niney) love can also drive men to more sinister actions as seen in The Count Of Monte Cristo.

Everything was finally working out for Dantès. He had just been named captain of a ship, putting that training at the naval academy to good use. A promotion means he can now get married to the love of his life Mercédès Herrera (Anaïs Demoustier). Dantès and Mercédès couldn’t be happier, they’d been together in secret waiting for this day.

However not everyone is as ecstatic. Mercédès’s cousin and Dantès’s good friend Fernand de Morcef (Bastien Bouillon) may have some secret feelings of his own for Mercédès. If it wasn’t for Dantès, then surely she would realize she truly loves Fernand in return. At least that thought was enough for Fernand to betray Dantès.

When the opportunity presents itself for Fernand to join with some others that felt wronged by Dantès, he seized the moment. Dantès is wrongfully accused of treason and sent to Château d’If, an island prison that no one comes back from. Essentially France’s Alcatraz on steroids. Dantès spends the next half decade in a haze. Barely fed, no real human contact, and dreaming of Mercédès. Until one day when his fortunes finally change.

Abbé Faria (Pierfrancesco Favino), a fellow prisoner at Château d’If, has been digging for years. He finally makes it into Dantès ‘s cell. With some quick math and a bit of convincing, Abbé gets Dantès to join him on his escape attempt. For the next decade Abbé and Dantès work tirelessly on their tunnel to freedom. During that time, Abbé teaches Dantès everything he knows. Languages, fighting, history – all of it. With Mercédès in his heart and revenge on his mind Dantès finally escapes. Armed with the knowledge and fortune Abbé provides him, it’s time to take his revenge. Not as Dantès, but as The Count Of Monte Cristo.

Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte both wrote and directed The Count Of Monte Cristo. The two of them have extensive history working together having co-wrote and co-directed several films in the past. The film is based off of Alexandre Dumas’s classic. This isn’t the first film adaptation of Monte Cristo, but Patellière and Delaporte have created the gold standard.

Right off the bat it is clear how much time and energy went into creating the perfect atmosphere for the film. The settings and costumes are spectacular and immediately draw you in. Couple that with an incredible score and the mood is set perfectly. There is no shortage of opportunities for exciting music and stunning visuals throughout the film and Patellière, Delaporte, & co. seem to seize them all.

Patellière and Delaporte use large gaps in time as chapters, helping break up the film and narrative. When needed, they employ flashbacks to help push the story and further reveal character motivations and actions. They use several interesting angles and memorable shots, even tossing in a bit of slow motion, all adding further unique layers to the film.

Niney masterfully portrays both Dantès and the Count. He perfectly toes the line of being full of emotion yet somehow seemingly emotionless – with simply revenge on his mind. Dantès surgically masterminds and executes his plan, and it is a sight to behold. Every detail accounted for, knowing the cause and effect of every action. The supporting cast also turn in strong performances. The film lends an opportunity to showcase large ranges of emotions in several characters and the actors don’t shy away from the challenge.

Of course, liberties were taken. Truncating a 1,000+ page book into a 3-hour film always means pieces have to be left out or told differently. While book purists may have issues with the film adaptation, this retelling of The Count Of Monte Cristo is as exciting as it is gorgeous to look at. While the runtime may look daunting to some, it is absolutely worth a watch – trust me, the time flies by.

The Count of Monte Cristo is open in theaters now.