I was persuaded to watch ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’ by a close friend, as she insisted it was a magnificent film. Although, there may be some biased in her decision, as Nicholas Cage is her own personal sex god. I did hear there were very bad film reviews for this film, but then so did ‘Pearl Harbour’ and I love that film!

FRONT COVER

Penelope Cruz and Nicholas Cage are stood in a loving embrace at a pier. The sea is glistening and the magical views of the Greek landscape can be seen in the background. You can also see, far off in the distance, Christian Bale in a fishing boat. It certainly does have a dreamy feel to it.

CERTIFICATE: 15
Language: some, strong
Sex/Nudity: once, moderate
Violence: Some, strong
Other: some moderate horror

PRICE:
£8.99 at HMV

RUNNING TIME:
124 minutes

DIRECTOR
John Madden (Shakespeare in Love)

PLOT

“Mandolin” – A stringed instrument of the lute family with a pear-shaped body and four or more pairs of strings, usually played with a plectrum.

Greece, Cephallonia – 1940

Cephallonia is a scenic part of Greece, where the residents are constantly battling to survive through earthquakes and massacres. Superstition and healing is at large scale, and the festivals and traditions are taken very seriously.

Pelagia (Penelope Cruz) lives in the unspoiled village of Cephallonia with her father (John Hurt), the doctor. She is an intelligent, and keen young woman who plans to follow the footsteps of her father, despite it not being the typical role of a woman of that time. She decides half heartedly to be engaged to her child-hood sweet heart, Madras the local fisherman.

Madras is the energetic type, who is always the centre of the party. He is constantly involved in idiotic schemes, such as being shot in the bottom by a canon, and is more of a friend than a lover. Madras is the type to throw you in the lake fully clothed, and would dive in after you. He is always playing endless pranks at inappropriate occasions. For example, at their engagement party he glued the chair Pelagia was sitting on, so that it was stuck to her bum when she stood up. Pelagia’s father sees that Madras is unsuitable, but allows his daughter to make her own decisions.

Meanwhile, World War II has become more visible to their village, and men are sent off to help fight it. Madras loyally goes away to fight and leaves anguished Pelagia behind. She writes endless letters but there is no reply. And her fear is magnified when the wounded bring terrible news of bad conditions. Many other residents are found out to have experienced devastating deaths.

To make matters worse, the Italian army come to invade the Greek village, Cephallonia, as the Italians are allies with the Germans. The ‘musical’ leader of this army is Captain Corelli (Nicholas Cage), who uses Pelagia and her father’s home as his own. Pelagia is not impressed and is not at all accommodating to Captain Corelli’s presence in her village.

Captain Corelli has a foreign sense of humour, but in actual fact is harmless enough. Pelagia is not impressed that Captain Corelli frolicking amongst the waves with topless Italian women, when the Greeks’s are fighting for their lives. She is not impressed at all!

However, she eventually can’t help being drawn his Italian glow, despite him being the enemy. Once they have the eye contact ‘moment’, it is quite clear that they are falling for each other. Slowly but surely, Pelagia warms to him, and shows loving fear when Captain Corelli is injured in an explosive accident. She is finally overcome with fantastic love when, Captain Corelli finally gets out his mandolin.

The war is becoming a more and more serious issue, and it is quite possible that this sad circumstance will tear their love apart.

OPINION

The scenery included in this film was beautiful. I think it gave a splendid atmosphere to the whole film- almost dreamy!

It was quite humorous to see Nicholas Cage attempt to put on an Italian accent, as was his supposed Italian mannerisms. Although I thought his attempts to be Italian made him appear quite camp, personally. Unfortunately, the only thing Italian about him was his olive-painted skin and dark, greasy hair. On a lighter note, I have never seen Nicholas Cage be such a character so it does show that he can be quite versatile. I am also impressed with his Italian serenades. He has quite a voice!

Christian Bale was also quite rigid as a character. He carried the basic idea of the character, but not convincingly. He just wasn’t Greek! I have seen more out of him in the past (American Psycho). I can’t complain about his appearance in this film though, because I got to see his very handsome bottom.

Penelope Cruz however did a fantastic job within this film. I doubt she even knows how to fail. Every scene she was in was believable, and it was made so easy to relate with her character.

It was refreshing to see a number of cultures within this film. As far as the accuracy of it all, I’m unsure but I gained an insight to the old Greek traditions with a lovely contrast to the Italian traditions. Also, it was a different point of view to World War II than I’m used to. There were no plane crashes and the Nazi invasions we expect from a war film, but the Greek/Italian spirit in a small insignificant village.

Overall, it was a light-hearted romance. There were some gruesome scenes, a gentle sex scene and a bit of history. However I wouldn’t say there was anything special about it. Maybe it also doesn’t help that I have never had a thing for Nicholas Cage (shame on me!).

CAST

Nicholas Cage – Captain Corelli (The Family Man, 8mm)
Penelope Cruz-- Pelagia (Blow, All the Pretty Horses)
John Hurt –Pelagia’s father (Crime and Punishment)
Christian Bale – Madras (Shaft, American Psycho)

WEBSITE

www.bennyvista.co.uk