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You have to give actor Ralph Fiennes credit. For his first time directing a movie, this guy has not gone the easy rom-com route. His choice, Shakespeare's "Coriolanus."

Fiennes takes the Shakespeare play and condenses it to two hours, which might bother Shakespearean purists, but there's a case to be made that Fiennes has made it more palatable for 21st century moviegoers. The setting has been moved to modern day Rome, even though the film was shot in Serbia. Despite the play being centuries old, with the timeless conflicts that we're witnessing on screen, some of this, iambic pentameter aside, seems like it could be ripped from today's headlines.

Since human behavior doesn't really change, political conflicts in Shakespeare's time are easily updated and wind up being relevant today.

As far as the performances go, Fiennes does a commanding job in the title role as a military leader who was once honored by his people, is cast out, becomes a traitor and ultimately pays the price for his sins. His directorial skills are to be admired, and the film is shot quite well. But the pacing is a bit confusing in the first half, even though it does pick up for the second. Vanessa Redgrave as his mother, Brian Cox as a political aide and Gerard Butler as Coriolanus' nemesis are all quite good.

Some audiences grabble with Shakespearean dialogue, but by updating the action, it might not be exactly Shakespeare's vision, but it's intriguing nonetheless. Plus action film fans will enjoy the bloody fight scenes.

It's an ambitious project, conceptually and you have to admire the effort.

Neil Rosen's Big Apple Rating: Three Apples.