‘Masterpiece’ war film with ‘terrifying’ moment streaming now on BBC | Films | Entertainment

Streaming services can become rather costly, whether it’s Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime or all three combined, you might quickly notice a substantial sum disappearing from your account just so you can locate something to watch on a Friday evening.

However, whilst they all offer some excellent films, BBC iPlayer boasts a hidden treasure of a war film, featuring an all-star ensemble that is available to stream without charge.

In a contemporary reimagining of a Shakespeare masterpiece, the award-winning Ralph Fiennes both directs and stars in 2012’s Coriolanus.

The narrative follows General Caius Martius, a merciless and combat-hardened warrior who receives the name “Coriolanus” following a savage triumph against Rome’s adversaries.

Following the triumph, he discovers himself being propelled into political authority, but when his genuine sentiments emerge, he faces banishment, where he reunites with his previous foe to destroy Rome once and for all.

The film’s contemporary backdrop, featuring firearms and 21st-century combat, combines to produce something entirely distinctive.

The production is packed with some major talent, with Fiennes in the leading role supported by a magnificent turn from Gerard Butler, alongside brilliant contributions from Succession’s Brian Cox and Jessica Chastain. Following its debut over 10 years ago, the film earned critical acclaim, securing a “certified fresh” rating of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes.

A critic awarding it five stars saying: ” I would say it is a masterpiece. I wasn’t expecting Shakespeare dialogue. I was taken aback, then delighted. Butler absolutely terrified me with one of his warrior speeches.

“They say war is hell, which I’ve understood in terms of carnage, injury and death; even seeing one’s friends perish. But Butler then personified the statement ‘war is hell’ in his terrifying rage and desire for vengeance in his speech.”

However, it’s worth noting the production received a far less enthusiastic reception from viewers, who gave it a considerably lower score of 58% on the platform.

The primary criticism from viewers centres on its retention of authentic Shakespearean language, which understandably proves challenging to comprehend at points.

In certain other versions, including Leonardo DiCaprio’s Romeo + Juliet, this becomes more manageable as audiences typically know the storyline already.

One Rotten Tomatoes user highlighted this issue, commenting: “The reason audience scores are lower is that most cannot understand the content and its relevance to modernity.

“This is a great adaptation of Coriolanus. A play by Shakespeare that is not as widely known to the public at large but is still relevant. There is no denying that this film brings the story to a modern era unflinchingly and with powerful performances.”

The film can be streamed online for free via BBC iPlayer.