Cyrano

Cyrano

A man ahead of his time, Cyrano de Bergerac dazzles whether with ferocious wordplay at a verbal joust or with brilliant swordplay in a duel. But, convinced that his appearance renders him unworthy of the love of a devoted friend, the luminous Roxanne, Cyrano has yet to declare his feelings for her—and Roxanne has fallen in love, at first sight, with Christian.

  • Released: 2022-01-06
  • Runtime: 124 minutes
  • Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
  • Stars: Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, Brian Tyree Henry, Ben Mendelsohn, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Bashir Salahuddin, Ray Strachan, Monica Dolan, Glen Hansard, Sam Amidon, Joshua James, Anjana Vasan, Ruth Sheen, Scott Folan, Mark Benton, Richard McCabe, Peter Wight, Tim McMullan, Mark Bagnall, Mike Shepherd, Paul Biddiss, Katy Owen, Paul Hunter, Celeste Dodwell, Celeste Dring, Bettrys Jones, Nandi Bhebhe, Colin Mace, Lucas Peters, Leo Rait, Kyla Goodey, Beverly Rudd, Giles King, Carl Grose, Sarah Wright, John Locke
  • Director: Joe Wright
 Comments
  • jsummers-88381 - 15 May 2024
    Criminally underrated!
    This is my absolute comfort watch - the soundtrack in particular I've listened to countless times. (If you adore the National as I do, you'll love it. I really hope they write more soundtracks in future.)

    Yes, the screenplay itself is a bit clunky in places and the story is mad as a box of frogs, but with such a fabulous cast, gorgeous settings and beautiful music, I can forgive that.

    Peter Dinklage as a romantic lead is brilliant- what a great idea - the longing looks he gives! And the scene with the soldiers reading their letters makes me weep every time.

    Without spoiling, they do make a change to the ending a bit from the play, but I think they carry it off pretty well and it had bags of pathos.
  • topaz1547-714-953672 - 25 December 2023
    This is nearly painful
    There are several reviews that say Peter Dinklage can't sing. That may be, but he's still better than anyone else. I can't watch anymore and I have really tried! An hour in and the one thing I'm most thankful for is that I didn't pay anything to see it. The music is off the charts bad. It's not musical, the lyrics are simplistic and uninspired, and there's not one strong singer in the whole thing. Dinklage may not be Pavarotti, but I maintain he's the best of that bad lot. He would do well in a rock band. He'd do well in anything, he's very talented and the only reason I didn't switch it off at the 5 minute mark.
  • masonfisk - 19 July 2023
    TONE DEF BUT GREAT TO LOOK AT...!
    A re-imaging of Edmond Rostand's classic from 2021. Peter Dinklage now steps behind the nose (in this case his nose is normal but his particular peculiarity is his height) as he loves his Roxanne, played by Hayley Bennett (wife of director Joe Wright) even though she loves Christian, played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. But his gift for gab is non-existent prompting Dinklage to pen letters to her in his stead which deepens their love which is put to the test when they're both sent to war & poor Harrison Jr. Is killed in battle. Bennett reunites w/Dinklage three years later but Dinklage is in ill health (due to his war wounds) & the truth finally emerges, much too late, for the lovers to do anything about it. That's the story in a nutshell but the rub here is that this version is a musical (a pretty bad one) where the songs still sound like they're being workshopped before their debut on Broadway. The actors do their best but like any musical worth its ilk if the songs stink, then the rest of the film will follow suit. Also starring Ben Mendelsohn as one of Bennett's romantic rivals & from The Commitments, Glen Hansard, here singing one song as a guard.
  • herrwh - 17 December 2022
    Why?
    Why does anyone believe they have the right or the talent to 'improve' (in their opinion) anyone's prose for a movie?

    Especially a classic.

    Should probably mention that I love the play, and believe Jose Ferrer's version is the best film version.

    It stuck pretty close to the English translation of the play with some alteration for the modern audience.

    Then we come to this Cyrano.

    I couldn't get through act 1 scene 2.

    The dialogue was bad enough, But the 'singing'?. . . . I then fast forwarded to the end to see how they would mangle it.

    My expectations were met.

    Peter Dinklage is an outstanding actor, and in my opinion could have pulled off the part as the romantic tragedy that it is by changing the nose references to height: Cyrano: Do you look down your nose at me sir? What is there to stare at? What do you see?

    The Boor: 'But I was careful not to look--knew better.

    Cyrano: And why not look at me if you please?

    The Boor: I was. . Cyrano: Oh! I disgusts you!

    The Boor: Sir!

    Cyrano: My height seems unwholesome to you?

    The Boor: No, on the contrary!. . .

    Why then that air. Disparaging?--perchance you think I shouldn't be allowed in public?

    Etc.

    Then there is the lighting. Just because it's set in the 17th century, doesn't mean you can't use some incandescent lighting so we can see.

    My rankings of cinema Cyranos: !. Jose Ferrer's version, 2. 'Life of an Expert Swordsman, Toshiro Mifune's version. I went to see it just because it's a Toshiro Mifune samurai movie. During the opening act, I kept thinking 'I've seen this before.' but knew I hadn't.

    Finally dawned on me, 'This is Cyrano!' Shows how closely the original had been followed.

    3. Gerard Depardieu's version 4. Peter Dinklage version.

    I don't count Steve Martin's 'Roxanne'.as a 'Cyrano'.

    So my question remains: Why?
  • marshalynn14-778-280665 - 27 November 2022
    Gave it a 10
    I gave this movie at 10. It made me cry, it made me laugh. I did not critique the actors, and I did not critique the parts that did not seem real however, I totally enjoyed this semi musical, and the story of love I gave it extra because so many of you trashed it. I think Peter dankly was fantastic and so was Haley Bennett. I didn't really care about the rest of the actors. They could've been better, yes. But the emotion that I got, as I said, move me to tears.

    Whatever was missing in this movie for some, I found totally there, and fairy moving Plus, I think it's good that kids can see this it's very Inclusive.
  • agarman-67311 - 22 October 2022
    Shakespeare takes the Stage
    Watching Cyrano is a gift as someone who loves the truth of art in theatre. Between the acting, the writing, the directing, composition, lyrics, choreography, costumes, down to the editing and post production It transports you as if, instead of watching a movie, you are transported to the Old Globe Theatre and watch a modern telling in a Shakespearean form. Every time I watch It it's as if I am at the foot of the stage. This isn't just a movie to enjoy but a film that gives the gift of art and love. A film that tells a story but as a whole was made in such a way that every time you watch It you take something away. I truly love It and wholeheartedly recommend It.