The Count of Monte Cristo (2002 film)

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The Count of Monte Cristo
The Count of Monte Cristo film poster
Directed by	Kevin Reynolds
Produced by	Gary Barber Roger Birbaum Jonathan Glickman
Written by	Jay Wolpert
Starring	James Caviezel Guy Pearce Dagmara Dominczyk Richard Harris
Distributed by	Buena Vista Pictures
Release date(s)	January 25, 2002
Running time	131 minutes
Language	English
Budget	$35,000,000 (estimated)
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

The Count of Monte Cristo is a 2002 film based upon the book The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas, père. It was directed by Kevin Reynolds and starred James Caviezel, Dagmara Dominczyk, and Guy Pearce.^[1] It loosely follows the general plot of the novel (the main storyline of imprisonment and revenge is preserved), but many aspects, including the relationships between major characters and the ending, have been changed, simplified, or removed. The movie met with mediocre box office success, bringing in about $54 million overall.^[1]

Despite its poor box office earnings, the film was generally very well-received by audiences and critics alike. As of April 4, 2007, the film currently maintains a rating of 7.4 (based on 21855 votes) at the IMDb and a 74% at Rotten Tomatoes.

Tagline: Prepare for adventure. Count on revenge.

1 Synopsis
2 Cast
3 Trivia & Goofs
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The year was 1814, during the downfall of the Napoleonic Empire and the Emperor's exile into the tiny island of Elba.

Second mate Edmond Dantès (James Caviezel), and his friend Fernand Mondego (Guy Pearce), officers of the French trading ship Pharaon, are headed towards Elba seeking help and medical attention to assist their ship's captain who has fallen ill. Upon arriving, Dantès and Mondego are chased by British horsemen who believe them to be spies of the exiled French Leader Napoleon Bonaparte (Alex Norton); they would have been dead were it not for the Emperor's presence. They were then brought to Napoleon's lodge to treat the dying captain. It was in this moment that Napoleon called upon the ignorant Dantès (who never knew how to read nor write) to ask of a simple favor (and to keep it confidential): to give a letter to a correspondent back home in France. As their captain lay dead that night, they were then sent home for him to be buried there (and for the letter to be delivered immediately as well).

Once arriving at the port city of Marseilles, Dantès was reprimanded by the ship's first mate, Danglars (Albie Woodington) for "disobeying orders". The shipping company's boss, Morrell (Patrick Godfrey), was inspired by Dantès' bravery and was thereupon promoted to captain. Furious, Danglars stormed out. Meanwhile, Dantès' fiancée Mercédès Iguanada (Dagmara Dominczyk) was intercepted by Mondego, who seeks her for himself. When Mondego learned of Dantès' luck, he was ridden with envy.

However, the naïve Dantès does not realize how his fortune affects those he considers "friends". It was then that Danglars and Mondego decided to oust Dantès permanently and take control of what he has taken away from them. Dantès was arrested one night (by charges of "treason" as an alleged Bonapartist) and sent to the deputy public prosecutor and chief magistrate, J.F. Villefort (James Frain). Though Villefort is at once sure of Dantès's innocence and is on the verge of setting him free, he discovers that the addressee is none other than his own father, Clarion, a prominent Bonapartist. However, the son has denounced his father to improve his relations with the current royalist regime, and a resurgence of speculation about his true loyalties could irrevocably damage his career and prevent his imminent marriage to a well-known aristocratic family. In order to bury this secret, Villefort burned the letter, charged him with murder, and sends Dantès to languish indefinitely in the infamous island prison Château d'If. He barely managed to escape and headed to Mondego to appeal for help. Mondego, angered at his friend's lack of trust (for keeping secrets from him) and fueled by envy, told him that he read the letter and thus wounded Dantès. Asked why he was doing this, he told Dantès that it was "complicated". He was arrested again and was sent to the Château d'If.

While imprisoned, Dantès is beaten regularly (at least once a year to commemorate his imprisonment) by the warden Armand Dorleac (Michael Wincott). Out of desperation Dantès attempts suicide. An inscription carved on his wall ("GOD WILL GIVE ME JUSTICE"), however, prevented him from killing himself. One day he met and befriended Abbé Faria (Richard Harris), a priest and a former soldier in Napoleon's army. Dantès learned that he, too, was wrongfully imprisoned, by the Emperor himself, when he never revealed to him a secret he so tightly kept: that of rumors of a treasure of limitless value, owned by Enrique Spada, the count of Monte Cristo, while working as the count's secretary. Dantès then told Faria his side of the story; with the priest's help through his gift of education and military skills, he discovers the horrible truth of his imprisonment and ought to seek revenge on Mondego and his associates once they escape. Their makeshift underground tunnel leading out to sea was interrupted when Faria was buried in a cave-in. Before he died, Faria confessed to Dantès of the whereabouts of Spada's treasure, which was concealed in an old circular map he kept hidden. He advised Dantès to use the wealth "only for good", with God on his side.

The priest's death made Dantès' years of training put to good use for his escape. After his use of deception, he was finally free, killing Dorleac in the process.

After his daring escape, Dantès is picked up by the pirate Luigi Vampa (JB Blanc). Here, Dantès is given the option of fighting Jacopo (Luis Guzmán), a crewmember and a traitor. Dantès defeated Jacopo, and vowed to serve Dantès for life. Under the name of (Zatarra), Dantès joins the smugglers in their adventures for three months, but leaves them when he finally arrives at his hometown. He then sought the counsel of the retired Morrell, who revealed all of what happened in the past 15 years. He learned that his fiancée has married Mondego. He also learned that Danglars took over Morrell's shipping company. In a fury, he goes to the island of Monte Cristo, uncovers the treasure, and vows to use his new wealth to break Mercédès, Mondego, and the others who conspired against him.

Dantès buys an enormous house and becomes the "Count of Monte Cristo". In an attempt to get closer to Mondego, and when he learned that he had a son by Mondego, he hired Vampa and his group to stage a kidnapping of Albert while partying in Rome. Monte Cristo "rescued" him, and was invited in the count's residence. Albert, in return, invited the count to his 16th birthday in the Mondegos' Paris residence. Villefort, however, came uninvited, and connived with Mondego himself on what to do with Spada's treasure (as he learned through Albert).

Monte Cristo's first taste of revenge began with his confrontation with Danglars, who ought to keep half the treasure for himself. He, however, never made it, and was strangled. Villefort, meanwhile, confessed to the count that Mondego killed Clarion, for Villefort "lacked the courage" and in order to hide his burning hate of his father. His punishment: he was charged with conspiracy to murder, and was sent to the Château d'If, after a failed suicide attempt.

Monte Cristo became acquainted with Mercédès for the first time in 16 years, and was filled with joy. But he tried hard to cover himself up, even though she observed him herself and found the true Edmond in him. Her undying loyalty for him was sealed in her "ring" that she never took off. She learned that Dantès wanted them to leave together with Albert, away from Mondego, who went bankrupt due to his corrupt ways. Mondego then went to a secluded place where he thought he could find his share of the treasure. After learning that he was deceived, he encounters the new Dantès for the last time. After a brief fight Albert joined the fray, followed later by Mercédès and Jacopo. She told Albert everything, but she was mercilessly wounded by Mondego. Dantès killed his former friend in the ensuing swordfight, and declared that he is merely "a count, not a saint".

Edmond Dantès, the Count of Monte Cristo, sold the dreaded Château d'If three months later, and thanked Abbé Faria for the sacrifice and wisdom he endowed on him that made all these happen. He thus lived a better life than before. God has given him justice indeed.

[edit] Cast

*Source: IMDb Pro ^[1]

James Caviezel - Edmond Dantes
Guy Pearce - Fernand Mondego
Richard Harris - Abbé Faria
James Frain - J.F. Villefort
Dagmara Dominczyk - Mercedès Iguanada
Michael Wincott - Armand Dorleac
Luis Guzmán - Jacopo
Christopher Adamson - Maurice
JB Blanc - Luigi Vampa
Henry Cavill - Albert Mondego

[edit] Trivia & Goofs

Guy Pearce was originally offered the lead role of Edmond Dantes.^[2]
During the last sword fight in the wheat field, large overhead power lines are clearly visible in the valley. A radio communications tower is also visible next to the building, off in the distance.^[2]
When Count Mondego is talking with Monsieur de Villefort in his office with the window open, you can just make out cars parked on the other side of the harbor.
When Abbé Faria and Edmond Dantes are crawling in the tunnel, Faria accidentally blows out his candle, but there is still light coming from the candle holder.^[2]
After the last sword fight in the wheat field, as Edmund retreats back into the building, a crew member can be seen in one of the windows.^[2]

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The scene involving Villefort trying to kill himself and Monte Cristo asking him: "Did you think I'd make it that easy for you?" was shot in two versions. The director thought the other version, where the gun was actually loaded, worked better and put it into the original cut. However, some test audiences, without the knowledge of the existing footage, indicated it would be better if the gun was not loaded, so the scene in the final cut was inserted.^[2]
During one of the fencing scenes between Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce, a move was performed incorrectly and Pearce was actually stabbed through the skin on his side. They took him to a hospital, and after he was patched up, he was bragging about the wound proudly, while Caviezel apologized profusely the whole time.^[2]