Peter Dinklage is in the title role; he originated this role on stage, and he fits very well in the role on screen. Erica Schmidt, Peter Dinklage’s wife, wrote the script. His character is good with a sword, and the fights show beautiful choreography in Wright’s hands. Cyrano is very confident in a fight; but he lacks the bravery to confess his love to his childhood friend Roxanne (played by Haley Bennett). Roxanne then confides in Cyrano and falls for the handsome soldier Christian (played by Kelvin Harrison Jr.). When she confesses her love for him, Cyrano sees an opportunity to hide behind Christian and confess his love to Roxanne through letters supposedly written by Christian.
The songs, as composed by members of the band The National, are hauntingly beautiful. Even though most musicals nowadays have toe-tapping numbers that stay in your head for days, the songs in “Cyrano” stay with you because of their lyrics and powerful message behind them. Dinklage sings the most in the film as he is the title character; and even though his voice is not the strongest, he is able to convey such emotion in voice, and has a Bowie-like quality to his tone.
Overall, the film is a tough watch near the end and possesses a “Romeo and Juliet”-like quality with the ending. However, the musical is lavish; it includes classic Joe Wright tropes, making it a romantic epic that all audiences can enjoy. This film was delayed in the UK because of the pandemic, and it is definitely worth the wait.
Currently, “Cyrano” is only available to watch in theaters.
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