37/22
With an estimated budget of 429 million euros, The Count of Monte Cristo is the most expensive French film of 2024
After escaping from an island prison where he spent 14 years after being wrongly accused of treason, Edmond Dantès returns as the Count of Monte Cristo to take revenge on the people who betrayed him. When Albert watches Hyde sing and play the guitar, it is very obvious that he is not even touching the strings half the time.
Featured in La grande semaine: Episode #113 (2024)
The first question I would like to ask directors who adapt novels into films is: if the book inspired you so much that you want to make a film out of it, then why change its story? The Count of Monte Cristo is another one of those cases: those who read the book will be shocked at how completely distorted the ending is; and for no apparent reason, I would agree, since the ending of the book was dramatic enough.
OK, end of run
So again, if you didn’t like it, why make a film about it? If you want to drive your own ideas by all means do so, use your imagination and in that case the sky will be the limit.
But then again, my literary memory comes back and the bittersweet taste remains in my mouth
If I had to turn off my literary memory and judge the film on Pure Cinematic Merits, The Count of Montecristo is a sincere cloak and dagger film, with good performances from all the key actors, good photography and and a decent pace.
