You ought to see Coriolanus performed at least once - and this is it.

"Coriolanus" is one of Shakespeare's lesser works and it's seldom performed, but let's get real: one of Shakespeare's lesser works still means it's one of the greatest works in the English language, so it's great to get a chance to see Coriolanus performed - and I think Ralph Fiennes's film version of "Coriolanus" (he directs and stars) is about as good a production as we're ever likely to see. First, the play: obviously Shakespeare was working on some themes that were familiar to him and much better to developed in other tragedies, notably the military hero in the political and public world (cf Othello), the male hero dominated by a powerful woman (cf Anthony and Cleopatra and Macbeth), and violent Roman street politics (Julius Caesar). In Coriolanus the military tough guy becomes a Roman political leader but is undone because of his utter contempt for the "masses" and because some wily politicians outmaneuver him - he is banished, takes up with the invading enemies, the Volscians, who ultimately betray him and assassinate him. The great strength of the play is the use of the masses, the people - terrific scenes of public protest, and a great sequence in which C addresses a mob, they despise him, but then they turn around and embrace him. These scenes are often quoted and cited in critical articles that examine Shakespeare and politics or society - along with some passages from the even-less successful tragedy Timon of Athens (which even Marx quoted). These crowd scenes are among those in which I truly think S anticipated what a medium such as film could do - Oh for a muse of fire! (Henry V) - and in the Fiennes production we do see how well this material translates not only to the fast cutting end editing of film - but also to a contemporary setting. Fienns puts his production in "A City Called Rome" in the present - and we see street riots and border wars - could e anywhere in the Balkans or in North Africa anytime within past 20 years - and most of all we see politicians who could be familiar to any American today: manipulators of public opinion, right-wing bloviators, left-wing phonies. Terrific - reminded me of another film version that I thought was a very successful update: Baz Luhrman's Romeo and Juliet, set in 1990s Latin America: both very effectively used TV news clips and fast cuts and voiceovers. Where Fienne's film weakens is also where Shakespeare's text weakens - the rather tedious 4th and 5th acts, in which Coriolanus goes over to the enemy and his controlling mother (and wife and son) come over to persuade him to make peace - a very long and boring scene with what could the longest uninterrupted piece of dialogue in the canon - even Vanessa Redgrave can't save it. Last scene, in which Fiennes's contempt and bravado boil over, pretty powerful though - and whole film worth seeing. You should probably see C. performed at least once, and this is it.