February is typically seen as the month of love. Despite Valentines Day passing like any other day, love is still well and truly in the air. Love, chocolates, flowers, a nice meal out, and a romantic movie to set the mood. A perfect way to spend your February. In an age of digital streaming, the choices are endless. However, Joe Wright’s Cyrano may just be the perfect film for musical lovers and couples everywhere. I had the absolutely pleasure of watching Cyrano, which stars Peter Dinklage, a few weeks early and with its release just around the corner, now seemed like the perfect opportunity to tell you all just how much I loved this witty and charming tale.
Cyrano‘s tale is one that has been retold countless times through onsceen adaptations. His heartbreaking story has even been a major point of inspiration for some of Hollywood’s most romantic films. After all, Cyrano’s tricky love triangle is something that has transcended through every media platform. If you are like me, then perhaps Cyrano is a name that you aren’t too familiar with. Let me elaborate. Cyrano de Bergerac is a play that was written by Edmond Rostand back in 1897. This new on screen adaptation hits a lot of the same beats, however, the original gave Cyrano a rather large nose which made him doubt himself completely. As a result, he refrained from expressing his true feelings to Roxane- his distant cousin. Yikes.
Of course, adaptations tend to make changes. Some big, and some small. But the original heart and soul of Cyrano remains very much intact. The major difference being that most of the play’s poems and verses have been transformed brilliantly into songs.
I love musicals, so I was instantly hooked by the trailer for Cyrano. Peter Dinlage taking on the main role also sealed the deal. I simply had to go and see Cyrano. At the time, I went in with very little knowledge so it was a completely unique and surprising experience. I was absolutely in awe of the beautiful, and simply mesmerising world Wright had created. There’s this enchanting side of Cyrano which truly embodies that romanticised period with its use of extravagent costumes and locations. Cyrano is a visually stunning film that feels very grand in its design. It’s not on the same scale as The Greatest Showman, for example. But Cyrano just felt more aesthetically pleasing. While the focus was of course on the main stars, it felt as though the surroundings played an equal role in bring the songs and story to life.
On the flip side of that, Cyrano didn’t shy away from diving into the extreme conditions soldiers faced during war. It was as though we were presented with two very different worlds, one that juxtaposed the other. One full of beauty and grandeur, while the other was harsh and barren. It was a really nice combination that grounded this musical and added a lot of weight to it.
Peter Dinklage soon became the primary reason why I fell in love with Cyrano. Now, I don’t think he has the best voice in the world. It certainly isn’t bad, but compared to some of the other stars such as Haley Benn’s Roxanne… Cyrano almost disappears. Having said that, it was actually Dinklage’s on-screen presence which helped him steal the show. Dinklage is such a physical and expressive person, and it was his embodiment of Cyrano that made his presence incredibly powerful and moving. At his core, Cyrano is a fun and intelligent man. But, he is also someone who is hurt and continuously tormented and Dinklage excels at finding that balance. You can really see the pain in his face but also that struggle to be the friend that Roxanne needs- the charasmatic and unbreakable Cyrano.
In addition to that, and I’m sure you’ll find the same, the decision to ditch the ugly nose only heightened the experience of watching Cyrano’s tale unravel. Because Dinklage is such an expressive actor, a giant protuding nose would have completely distracted the audience from the emotional turmoil that was destroying Cyrano.
Of course, this wasn’t just Cyrano’s movie. The entire film is full of brilliant characters but I loved that the focus never really strayed from that inital love triangle. You really get a feel for each character’s needs and desires. More importantly, it sells the triangle. With Cyrano and Christian becoming incredibly close friends, and Christian’s relationship with Roxanne moving beyond ink on paper, the film reaches a breaking point where you’re just waiting for it to implode.
A musical wouldn’t be a musical without a few songs, right? What I found wildly impressive and just brilliant is that most of the songs are formed using the various verses from the original play. Isn’t that amazing? So, while this is a cinematic adaptation, it still has this constant rhythm through the dialogue and songs. I found it very clever and it created a bit of a playground. We get to listen to very different songs that feel more personalised towards the intended character. There’s diversity through the songs and even through how the world around those songs spring to life. Cyrano knows when to embody the spirit of a traditional musical, just like it knows when to stay with certain characters as they confess and even suffer.
I definitely have a few favourites, but just knowing the origin of these songs just adds an extra layer of depth. It was incredibly impressive and I guarentee that you’ll be replaying some of the songs in your head for a few weeks afterwards.
Cyrano is simply wonderful. It has heart, fun, love, music and action. Not only is it a visually beautiful piece of cinema, it’s also a thoughtful and rather devastating love story. The balance between fun and torture is an odd one, but Cyrano finds it. With the combination of enchanting songs and elegant choreography, Cyrano is a musical that deserves to be loved simple for its approach. The songs may not be as catchy as Disney’s “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”, but there’s something about the aesthetics and storytelling within each song that just grabs and holds your attention. Heightened by a masterful performance by Peter Dinlage, Cyrano is a must see for every musical fan.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Will you be checking out Cyrano? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. Don’t forget to check out the trailer below:
Cyrano stars Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Ben Mendelsohn. The upcoming romance which is guaranteed to melt your hearts features music by Aaron & Bryce Dessner. Make sure you bring your tissues. Cyrano will be available to watch in cinemas from February 25th, with previews taking place on Valentines Day. You won’t want to miss Peter Dinklage in action.
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