Cyrano

By: Jamie Steinberg

The film Cyrano is the latest version of the classic play by Edmond Rostand. This new musical adaptation, directed by Joe Wright, is beautifully cast, well-acted and makes so much sense! In the classic tale Cyrano de Bergerac is a well-trained soldier with one fault – he has a gigantic nose. This deems him “ugly” in the eyes of others, hurting his chances at winning the heart of the beautiful Roxanne. In this iteration Peter Dinklage stars as the titular character, changing the story from a large nose being Cyrano’s downfall and turning it into a matter of size. Written by Erica Schmidt (Dinklage’s wife), this update truly works as rather than having actors wear a prosthetic nose for their portrayal, Dinklage adds realism to the role. With this in mind, viewers are certain to be captivated and impressed by this iconic retelling.

Roxanne (Haley Bennett) and Cyrano are childhood friends. It is this connection that breaks his heart that much more, as he feels if it weren’t for his size, they would be perfect for one another. The wound only deepens for Cyrano when Roxanne confides in him that she is being “courted” by a douche of a Duke (Ben Mendelsohn), yet her heart belongs to a soldier in Cyrano’s regiment – the handsome Christian (Kelvin Harrison, Jr.). With Cyrano’s talent for talking, Christian begs for help to woo her heart. It is with Cyrano’s aid that Roxanne falls head over heels for Christian and his sweet words. Unfortunately, we all know too well this cannot last long as Cyrano can only bear so much of seeing his dream girl in the arms of another.

Yes, this is a well-known tale, but it is Dinklage that truly brings this character to another level. Dinklage’s performance impresses as Cyrano – showing his skills as an amazing swordsman, single-handedly defeating ten men. Plus, with every word from Cyrano’s heart (that Christian usurps) you feel the emotion behind it. I’m not sure if it is simply Dinklage’s cadence or whether it is his otherworldly way of captivating an audience with the passion in his performances, but all eyes certainly stay with the actor and the character.

Director Wright truly shines as well. There is an incredible scene where rows and rows of soldiers are fencing one another in an eye-catching rhythmic coordination. There are also dances that erupt from everyday activities that are such fun to watch. However, it is the tete-a-tete that goes on between Cyrano, Christian and Roxanne that fascinate as viewers find themselves lost in the heady, romantic love triangle through the words of each letter.

Those that love the time-honored tale of heartbreak are sure to truly appreciate the goodness that is Cyrano. Whether you show up for the love story and stay for the talent that is Peter Dinklage, viewers will certainly swoon.