what is the movie with Pierre Niney worth?

The film directed by Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte brilliantly offers a new adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic.

After writing the diptych The Three MusketeersAlexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte return with a new adaptation of the work ofAlexandre Dumas this time, behind the camera.

the count of Monte Cristo, the greatest story of revenge in French literature, follows the tragic fate of Edmond Dantès, determined to make the men responsible for his imprisonment pay. Selected out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival 2024, the film was presented to the festivalgoers on May 22 and received one of the best ovations of this Cannes selection. That’s right!

In almost three hours movie, the two screenwriters and directors have time to build a complete and deep story offering a modern as well as respectful version of the spirit of Dumas. This is the great strength of the film: it accepts the main theme related to revenge without trying to water down certain decisions and actions of the main character, even if it wants to give him the role of the villain sometimes.

On the other hand, the absolute injustice suffered by Edmond Dantès – and particularly well represented during the first hour – pushes the viewer to automatically join his camp and to see in this story of revenge a joyful execution of the most intense impulses of humanity. Get revenge, whatever the cost, and get revenge by meticulously preparing your plan.

Pierre Niney, teacher

the count of Monte Cristo Following the adventures known to all Edmond Dantès: the happy idyllic life, the prison at the Chateau d’If for almost 15 years, then the reprisals. During the movie, Pierre Niney he embodies with absolute talent the different facets of Edmond Dantès, to the point of delivering what is undoubtedly one of the greatest performances of his career. Between his benevolence, his desperation, his hatred and his physical transformation according to the moments of the film – the makeup and the hair are amazing – the actor takes on the role and molds it to his style without ever falling into the trap of the absurd. nor lose credibility. The greatest achievement of Count of Monte Cristo it is undoubtedly the involvement of Pierre Niney and his performance.

However, the actor is not the only one to stand out and let the film remain very high: Pierfrancesco Favino plays a memorable Abbé Faria, Anamaria Vartolomei gives Haydée her presence and charm, and Laurent Lafitte rejoices in this role of ‘a perfidious antagonist.

the count of Monte Cristo it is a story of revenge, but also a story of adventure and mystery. When Edmond’s character is imprisoned at the Chateau d’If and meets the Abbe Faria, Edmond’s cellmate’s enigmatic speech about a mysterious treasure offers the film its tipping point: what to do with infinite wealth and deep hatred in his heart?

The whole long passage in the cells of Chateau d’If is one of the greatest moments of the film, thanks to the characterization of the characters and the development of the main themes of the story.

Say without saying

Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte de facto succeed in using the cinematic language to give the main reading points to the viewers. Without ever weighing down the story with a superficial exposition, he knows how to be content with a look, a gesture or an emotion on the face to establish the problems and destinies of the different characters. The film is constantly traveling and makes the protagonists and antagonists evolve according to their desires and their relationship with each other.

Equally successful, the film does not seek to reveal all the facets and history of Edmond Dantès during his vindictive preparation. Bringing an element of mystery, the count of Monte Cristo cultivates both its relation to adventure and epic fresco, as well as the charisma of its main character, capable of being several steps ahead of others.

With a sustained pace that allows you to go through almost three hours of film without ever hearing them, the count of Monte Cristo visually evolve during its progress.

Here again, the screenwriters/directors adopt a careful stance regarding artistic direction. After a joyful and colorful introduction, he gives his work a more gothic aspect, respecting the work of Dumas. When the story is told for the first time, the atmosphere darkens and the photograph follows this evolution. In a memorable scene in a candlelit residence, the macabre is at its peak, as is Edmond’s underlying violence.

Never watering down his words around hate and revenge, the count of Monte Cristo it is also a love story and a touching love story between two unjustly separated lovers. The relationship between Pierre Niney and Anaïs Demoustier is particularly beautiful, supported by a recurring musical theme that offers the film its most poetic moments.

Intense, rich and embodied in every stage of the production, this new adaptation of Count of Monte Cristo it reminds us how timeless Alexandre Dumas’s book is. Without losing sight of the contemporary aspect of the staging and the atmosphere, the film by Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte is a particularly dense and assertive work, which never descends to its ambiguity. Revenge is definitely a dish best served cold.

the count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte, 2h58, with Pierre Niney, Laurent Lafitte, Anaïs Demoustier and Bastien Bouillon, in cinemas on June 28, 2024.