© Pathé
This Wednesday, June 26, 2024 marks revivalliterary myth written by Alexandre Dumas at the end of the 19th century. The Count of Monte Cristo has just been released in cinemas. After the success of the diptych The Three Musketeers, carried by François Civil, Pio Marmaï, Romain Duris and Vincent Cassel, French cinema continues to give pride of place to films by cloak and sword.
But attacking a literary monument is risky. We can no longer count the adaptations of Count of Monte-Cristofor decades. In cinema, on television and even in musicals, the vengeance carried out by Edmont Dantès has thrilled many spectators. More than 150 years after the publication of Alexandre Dumas' novel, filmmakers Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte want to breathe new life into it. But is this new film adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo worth the detour ?
The Count of Monte Cristo, a French blockbuster
When you tackle a literary masterpiece like The Count of Monte Cristo, you have to put the means in. With a budget of almost 43 million euros, Pathé saw things on a grand scale for this new adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' work. To give you some context, the two films The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan and The Three Musketeers: Milady had a total budget of around 70 million euros.
One thing is certain: the colossal budget of The Count of Monte Cristois felt in every shot of this thrilling feature film. A period film, the costumes and sets are magnificent. Visually, the film by Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte is admirable. There is not a single moment without being amazed.
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The true strength of the Count of Monte Cristo, that’s his plot. We all know more or less the story of Edmond Dantès, at least in broad terms. On the day of his wedding to the love of his life, he is arrested. Having just been promoted to captain of a large ship, the young man is the victim of a plot led by a jealous and envious entourage. Wrongly imprisoned for more than a decade at the Château d'If, he managed to escape in an ingenious way. When he returns, it is under a new identity and a different appearance: that of the Count of Monte Cristo. And he only has one idea in mind… Take revenge on all those who betrayed him.
But to adapt a novel of a thousand pages, you have to hang on. No choice: The Count of Monte Cristolasts almost 3 hours. We can already see certain pairs of eyes rising to the sky, but stop right now: the filmmakers have achieved a great feat. In fact, we don't see the time passing. The storyline is totally gripping, with plots and subplots that flow together perfectly. Considering the basic equipment, there is no time to lose. Where the viewer could easily have been lost, this is not the case. We delight in following the slow and meticulous revenge of dear Edmond Dantès. On several occasions, I found myself tense in my seat, captivated by the plot.
© Pathé
If The Count of Monte Cristo is a success, it is also because its actors are excellent. Pierre Niney (Yves Saint Laurent) seems born to play the (rightly) resentful Edmond Dantès. If the French actor is very good in his role, he is not the only one. The trio formed by Bastien Bouillon (La Nuit du 12), Laurent Lafitte (Elle) and Patrick Mille (Baron Noir) is particularly horrifying. We can also salute the performances of Anaïs Demoustier (Les Grandes Personnes), Anamaria Vartolomei (L'Événement), Vassili Schneider (Les Amandiers) as well as Julien de Saint Jean (Le Paradis) . They are all extremely convincing.
The Count of Monte Cristopromises a great show, and definitely delivers it. The swashbuckling feature film keeps all its promises. This is a film to discover in cinemas so as not to miss the slightest detail of this true French blockbuster. While The Three Musketeers was already a good surprise, The Count of Monte Cristo definitely puts the swashbuckling films up to date. And that makes us happy! See you from Friday June 28, 2024 in cinemas.
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