Who Needs Gods When You Have Ralph Fiennes?

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As a cinema connoisseur with over two decades of film-watching under my belt, I must say that Ralph Fiennes continues to impress me with his versatility and physicality as an actor. In “The Return,” he embodies Odysseus with such intensity that one cannot help but feel the weight of the ancient Greek king’s burden. The scene where Odysseus stands still, simmering with rage and indecision, is a testament to Fiennes’ range as an actor – a burning sausage indeed!

In David Hare’s 2022 play “Straight Line Crazy,” where Ralph Fiennes portrayed Robert Moses, audiences were left in awe of his exceptional physicality as an actor. Onstage, Fiennes powerfully moved about a stage dominated by a city map, embodying the forceful nature of Moses who could bulldoze through forests, hills, villages, and neighborhoods. The performance was so intense and passionate that it seemed like Fiennes might leap from the Shed’s small stage and land in the audience at any moment. While this may sound humorous, the intensity and danger of Fiennes’ portrayal were palpable during the performance.

In Uberto Pasolini’s movie “The Return,” Fiennes portrays Odysseus, the ancient Greek ruler of Ithaca, who, as recounted in Homer’s “The Odyssey,” embarked on a long voyage back home after the Trojan War. The film depicts the concluding part of this epic tale: Odysseus’ return to Ithaca, disguised as a beggar and unknown to its inhabitants, who have been courted by suitors seeking his throne during his absence. His wife Penelope (Juliette Binoche), unaware of his whereabouts, is now under their siege. The film highlights Fiennes’ physical prowess, not only in his movements but also in stillness. Odysseus is known for his fierce anger; Homer describes him as “writhing like a sausage cook turning meat over an open flame, unceasingly.

I express my sincere appreciation: Ralph Fiennes excels in his roles, showcasing both menacing intensity and silent power. In the lively papal drama “Conclave“, he portrays Cardinal Lawrence with a tender softness that highlights the character’s struggle with doubt, serving as a stark contrast to the relentless schemers surrounding him. This dual performance subtly illustrates Fiennes’ versatility as an actor. In “The Return“, he delves into a role filled with crippling indecision, observing and contemplating, but his hesitation in this film is unlike the calm of Cardinal Lawrence. Despite his passive appearance, we sense through Fiennes’ tense body language that revenge and bloodshed are imminent – a coming storm that we have been anticipating for 2,500 years, given our familiarity with “The Odyssey“.

In this adaptation by Pasolini, the traditional mythical aspects like gods and shape-shifting deities manipulating mortal destinies are absent. Instead, he infuses a touch of contemporary psychology into the narrative, making Odysseus’ anger more complex with layers of grief and indecision. After the devastating war and the heavy toll of his long voyage (where he lost every one of his men), Odysseus appears disconnected from his former self, questioning if he truly deserves to regain his old life. Upon meeting Penelope again, Odysseus struggles to reveal his true identity; she too is unaware, but their interaction hints that perhaps on a deeper subconscious level, she recognizes something about this dimly familiar man who stands before her. (Who needs gods when you have Ralph Fiennes?)

If only the entire movie, aside from being dull, could match the quality of performances by Fiennes and Binoche. It’s understandable that Pasolini aimed to simplify the story, but the result lacks energy and excitement. In The Return, characters usually talk with minimal emotion or liveliness, facing each other without much movement. Pier Paolo Pasolini, a legendary director from the 1960s and ’70s, also simplified some classic tales in his work, but he had a unique ability to find grandeur in simplicity. Unfortunately, Uberto’s adaptation lacks this, offering more stagnation instead, except when Fiennes is present on screen, which is fortunate since it happens frequently. The movie fails to serve as either a brief summary of The Odyssey or an independent story. However, it does emphasize Ralph Fiennes’ timeless talent.

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2024-12-06 22:54