The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)

Directed by Kevin Reynolds. Starring Jim Caviezel, Guy Pearce, Luis Guzmán, Richard Harris, Dagmara Domińczyk, James Frain, Jean-Benoît Blanc, Michael Wincott, Albie Woodington, Henry Cavill, Alex Norton, Freddie Jones, Helen McCrory, Barry Cassin. [PG-13]

Alexandre Dumas’ story of betrayal and revenge comes to the big screen once more, showing how Edmond Dantès (Caviezel) is set up by a jealous friend (Pearce) to be locked away in an island prison; many years later, Edmond plots to escape and settle the score with all those who conspired against him. A conventional if far-fetched romantic adventure in the old-fashioned swashbuckling tradition; better than it has any right to be, considering the dullness of Caviezel’s performance and how anemic lady love Domińczyk is, not to mention the outrageous plot device that is the discovery of a vast fortune in buried treasure (critical to Edmond’s revenge plot). Shot primarily on the island of Malta as a stand-in for 18th century Marseilles, the production values work in tandem with the deep-rooted desire to see wrongs righted to carry the film past its shortcomings. Guzmán’s dialogue is too anachronistic for his quirky “sidekick” character to work, but Harris brings spirit to his role as a wizened mentor to Edmond in prison; it was the actor’s final film released during his lifetime.

68/100