Starring: Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Ben Mendelsohn, Monica Dolan, Mark Benton
Director: Joe Wright
Release date: 25th February 2022
Cyrano de Bergerac (Peter Dinklage) is a talented poet and soldier in the French army, whose best friend since childhood has been Roxanne (Haley Bennett), a beautiful and well-to-do woman who is way above his social class. Cyrano has been a loyal and trusted friend to her for the majority of her life and offers advice when needed. Thing is, he harbours feelings for her that he feels she can never know.. he thinks she could never love someone who looks as he does.
One day she comes to him to say she is in love. His heart jumps for joy but then she reveals it’s with a guy named Christian (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) who has just joined the army. She asks him as a fellow soldier to help Christian in any way possible and keep an eye out for him. Cyrano is heartbroken but agrees.. How will he handle knowing that the woman he loves only has eyes for another? All he can do is obey Roxanne’s wishes and become a friend to Christian..
A brand new adaptation for the big screen of the story of Cyrano de Bergerac, sees Peter Dinklage reprise the role he played in the Off-Broadway stage version of ‘Cyrano’ back in 2018. The story is a very well known one, with most people probably remembering Steve Martin’s take on the story in the 1987 movie, ‘Roxanne’ starring Daryl Hannah. The premise was very different but the core story was the same.
The new movie is a full-on musical adaptation of the original 1897 play by Edmond Rostand, which will have you riveted from start to finish. The songs, mostly written by the band, The National are earworms as soon as you hear them and there are some fantastic cameos by some very well known vocal performers too.
A totally immersive and spectacular movie, lovers of musical theatre will thoroughly enjoy ‘Cyrano’ from start to finish. It will also hopefully appeal to watchers of Peter’s other movies and TV series.
I have to say though that this feels like a totally Oscar worthy performance from Peter Dinklage.
Make sure to watch this on a big screen. I can guarantee it will be one that you’ll watch more than once..
Overall: 8.5/10
