The Count of Monte-Cristo (2024)

September 5, 2024 2:47 PM

Edmond Dantes becomes the target of a sinister plot and is arrested on his wedding day for a crime he did not commit. After 14 years in the island prison of Château d'If, he manages a daring escape. Now rich beyond his dreams, he assumes the identity of the Count of Monte-Cristo and exacts his revenge on the three men who betrayed him.
posted by TheophileEscargot (6 comments total)

I enjoyed this: lavish production, some great acting if a bit over the top ("Lord Halifax" was fantastic but lurid), leans into the melodrama at the end. But at three hours I thought it could have been trimmed down a bit, there wasn't as much swashbuckling action as I was expecting.

It currently has an enviable 100% on RottenTomatoes, but based on just 23 reviews, I expect it will sink down down a bit later.

It's in French with subtitles. I haven't seen much attention for it, no trailers or advertising, I only noticed it when looking for what was on. I wonder if it's falling between the two stools of the action/adventure audience and the foreign-language-art-movie crowd.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 12:59 AM on September 6 [1 favorite]

This is by the same people who made the French language Three Musketeers double bill in the last few years, I enjoyed those and I am keen to see it. I'm not convinced its going to make it to my local cinemas so could be a wait for it to get to Amazon.
posted by biffa at 1:40 AM on September 6

I missed "The Three Musketeers", will have to watch that sometime! It's buyable on Amazon. Annoying that it's a 15 though, I was hoping it would fit in the incredibly narrow category of things that my wife and son will both watch.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 2:26 AM on September 6

Yeah, they're a bit more brutal than the usual fairly bloodless 3 musketeers films, but worthwhile.
posted by biffa at 2:04 PM on September 6 [1 favorite]

Oh dang, one of my favorite books! Lemme see if it's showing in the vicinity...
posted by humbug at 3:47 PM on September 6

Saw this twice (I'm French, it's been out for months) and found it excellent. The plot is very (very!) simplified from the book and yet it hits all the right beats.

The production is very lavish in a way French movies rarely are and the actors are fantastic. Pierre Niney always is, but I was quite pleasantly surprised by Laurent Lafitte who tends to chew the scenery but was quite restrained here (though still very slappable).
posted by snakeling at 12:30 PM on September 7 [2 favorites]