The Count of Monte Cristo (1998)

Review by All Movie Guide
Portly Gérard Depardieu squeezes into his role as a dashing swashbuckler in this eight-hour-plus adaptation of an Alexandre Dumas novel. The made-for-TV film directed by Josée Dayan received high ratings when it debuted on French television in 1998. Depardieu portrays Edmond Dantes, who changes his identity to the Count of Monte Cristo in order to undo those who wronged him. As the count, Depardieu wears a wardrobe of disguises, such as a bulbous nose and the garb of a priest, none of which should fool anyone -- but do. His disguises are reminiscent of those of Peter Sellers playing Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther films, but Depardieu is deadly serious -- perhaps too serious -- for his role. Another problem is pacing. In its effort to do justice to the 800-page novel and probe the psyches of the characters, the film includes so many details that the action occasionally bogs down in a subplot or a lengthy conversation. On the positive side, Depardieu exhibits the magnetism and stage presence that served him well in other French historical dramas, such as Danton, Cyrano de Bergerac, and Balzac. Moreover, he receives excellent support from the rest of the cast, including Pierre Arditi as Villefort, the prosecutor who helps imprison him; Ornella Muti as Mercedes, the woman he loves but loses; Sergio Rubini as Petruccio, the count's faithful valet; and Jean Rochefort and Michel Aumont as Fernando Mondego and Baron Danglars, respectively, the men who betray Dantes. Finally, the costumes and sets are excellent, bringing the Napoleonic era to life as the camera follows Dantes' adventures in Paris, Marseilles, Naples, and Malta. The dialogue is in French with English subtitles. ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide