“˜Count of Monte Cristo’ comes to life on screen

  Spyglass Entertainment Group, LP Jim
Caviezel and Dagmara Dominczyk share an
intimate moment in "The Count of Monte Cristo."

By Emily Camastra
Daily Bruin Contributor

Following recently released film versions of Alexandre
Dumas’ novels, “The Three Musketeers” and
“The Man in the Iron Mask,” another of the
author’s classics is making the transition to the screen.

The “Count of Monte Cristo,” called the grandfather
of all revenge movies by director Kevin Reynolds, is the latest
adaptation of the Alexandre Dumas novel with the same name. It
opens in theaters nationwide this Friday.

Like other Dumas novels, it is the kind of story that continues
to fascinate modern audiences. Actor Jim Caviezel attributes the
popularity of the swashbuckling epic to the adventurous way in
which it promotes justice.

“Even though the book was written hundreds of years ago,
the themes are still relevant today,” Caviezel said.

In casting “The Count of Monte Cristo,” studio
executives wanted young, fresh talent to give the film an edge. The
film features laudable performances by Jim Caviezel, Guy Pearce and
Dagmara Dominczyk.

Jim Caviezel, who grabbed critical attention in “The Thin
Red Line,” described his role as protagonist Edmond Dantes in
“The Count of Monte Cristo” as physically demanding. He
underwent intensive training for the action sequences and the
prison scenes involved three-hour make-up sessions.

  Spyglass Entertainment Group, LP Dantes
(Caviezel, left) has only one friend in the world,
his fellow prisoner, Abbe Faria (Richard Harris),
who teaches him how to survive. “It’s a small price to
pay for doing what I love,” said Caviezel.

During the prison scenes, he got the opportunity to work
opposite the legendary British actor, Richard Harris
(“Gladiator,” “Harry Potter and the
Sorcerer’s Stone”).

Another celebrated actor, Guy Pearce, who dazzled audiences in
last year’s “Memento,” plays Fernand ““ the
ultimate backstabbing friend.

For his sword fighting scenes, the Australian actor referred to
his childhood experiences.

Pearce began fencing competitively at age 11, but when filming
began, he realized that he had forgotten the sport completely. He
had to start from scratch, along with Caviezel, and trained three
hours a day for an entire month.

Dagmara Dominczyk, the actress who kissed Jennifer Aniston in
last year’s “Rock Star,” was passionate about
portraying Mercedes, a character that she described as a catalyst
for action.

 

Emphasis on characters like Mercedes, who play a crucial role in
the plot of the film, was a priority while adapting the novel to
the screen. Director Kevin Reynolds said the process was
particularly challenging because the novel is so dense. A lot of
characters had to be eliminated and a lot of subplots had to be
dropped in order to focus the film on the main plot and make it
more cinematic.

There were other difficulties, notably to find locations that
were untouched by civilization. To re-create 18th century France,
Reynolds filmed in remote parts of Ireland and the island of
Malta.

“We would shoot a part of the island and just beyond the
edge of the camera’s lens would be a modern city,” said
Reynolds.

When on the set, Reynolds said he had to know when to be
flexible, a challenge for him and part of a long directorial
learning process. During his first directing efforts, he walked
onto the set with a clear vision of in his head of what he wanted
to capture on film. He would become extremely frustrated when his
vision didn’t match reality.

“Everyday is a compromise. You have to learn to think on
your feet,” Reynolds said.

By placing Caviezel’s character in every scene, Reynolds
wanted the audience to feel that they suffer with him and can cheer
him on in his efforts for revenge. On a deeper level, however, the
film questions the merits of revenge and whether it is ultimately
satisfying.

As the actor Jim Caviezel put it, until you forgive, you become
what you hate.