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'Cyrano' Review

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February 24, 2022
By:
Hunter Friesen
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The Great Musical War of 2021 has come to an end

With the late-breaking Cyrano being the last extension of this trend


The famed wordsmith's tale of forbidden love

Has been told so many times before that it is as worn as an old glove


Between José Ferrer, Gérard Depardieu and Kevin Kline on the stage and the screen

Many have given performances of the character that are oh so fine


Now it is time for Peter Dinklage of Game of Thrones fame to take on the role

And give it all, with both heart and soul


You may wonder why I am speaking in rhyme

To that, I say it is to keep my mind as sharp as a dime


Because after writing over seventy reviews for films both small and big

My brain has become brittle and could snap like a twig


But I also speak in rhyme as a way to honor good Cyrano

Who can mold words to his liking as a baker does with dough


So this is a fair warning to all readers who oppose rhymes

As you will want to lock me up for my crimes


Now with that out of the way, let's get on with the review

For a film that has assembled quite the cast and crew



Our story begins in the time of old

When men were told to be soldiers and bold


Cyrano is a man full of charm and wits

Whose only downfall is that he stands as tall as a man when he sits


His lack of stature is what keeps him away from his love, Roxanne

Who’s skin and voice is as soft as a dove


Much to Cyrano’s dismay, Roxanne loves another

His name is Christian, Cyrano’s new army brother


Christian loves Roxanne as well but hasn’t got a tongue

As the words he speaks have the same effect as potent dung


So Cyrano comes up with a plan so that he will act as Christian’s voice

Writing letters to Roxanne, making her rejoice, even if it isn’t by choice


However, this love triangle gets complicated as time goes on

As the snooty Count de Guiche forces Roxanne’s hand in marriage as part of a con


Chrisitan and Cyrano must tell Roxanne the truth of their ruse

Or her forced marriage to the Count will forever give her the blues



Directing this film adaptation of Cyrano is Joe Wright 

Whose past works of Pride & Prejudice and Atonement are an absolute delight


Lately, he’s been in a bit of a rough patch

As Pan and The Woman in the Window failed to hatch


No matter, here is where Wright once again flexes his skill

With imagery captured with the camera with such thrill


Scenes play out in extended takes lasting minutes at a time

Allowing for the sets, costumes, and music to be sublime


“Someone to Say” is my favorite tune of the soundtrack to exist

As it now has a permanent spot in my Spotify playlist 


The technicals and craftsmanship is so wonderful

And so is the cast, made up of actors quite colorful


Dinklage’s charm brings a certain panache

And he should have dived into the Oscar race with a splash


His height may limit his character on the screen

But it’s never stopped him personally from chewing the scene


And while Haley Bennett as Roxanne may not be up to his level

Their chemistry often makes scenes quite the revel


Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Chrisitan brings might

As he aptly plays the knight that cannot write


But surprisingly, it is good Ben Mendelsohn who steals the show

With his face caked in posh makeup, white as snow


Of the musicals that came out this past year

Cyrano places third in the upper-tier


What films are ahead of it you request?

It’s West Side Story and Annette of course, whose set pieces are the best


But even in third place, Cyrano is a treat

So go out, buy a ticket, and save your seat


I’ll be on my way now, making haste to my next story

When it comes to picking my next film, I can do any category


And if you thought this poem came to no amount

My only defense is to say that it is why I studied the art of the account

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