Film Review — Le Comte de Monte-Cristo (The Count of Monte-Cristo)
This new version of the Alexandre Dumas classic proves an enjoyable, satisfying, six-course-dinner of a film
The Count of Monte-Cristo has been adapted umpteen times for film and television, often unsuccessfully. However, this new take, courtesy of directors Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière. is rather magnificent. Last year, their screenwriting involvement with Martin Bourboulon’s criminally underseen two-part adaptation of another Alexandre Dumas classic, The Three Musketeers, more than proved their credentials. Here, they’ve crafted something even better.
For those unfamiliar with the plot, it begins in 1815, just after Napoleon escapes exile in Elba. Recently promoted merchant Captain Edmond Dantès (Pierre Niney) finds himself the fall guy at the centre of a cruel conspiracy, in which he is framed as a Napoleonic spy. Those framing him are led by prosecutor Villefort (Laurent Lafitte), jealous colleague Danglars (Patrick Mille), and Fernand Mondego (Bastian Bouillon), cousin of Dantès’s fiancée Mercédès (Anaïs Demoustier). Fernand rather fancies Mercédès for himself.
On his wedding day, Dantès is arrested and later imprisoned in solitary confinement at the notorious Château d’If. After four…
