(rated R, 127 mins.) A WWII drama centering around Pelagia (Penelope Cruz), the daughter of Doctor Iannis (John Hurt), who realizes that after a few strums from a mandolin played by Captain Corelli (Nicolas Cage), life as a fisherman’s wife to a local (Christian Bale) may not be what she bargained for. Life is simple on this Greek Island, where people believe in family and miracles until war breaks out. Suddenly two ancient countries (Greece and Italy) are forced to co-exist during war off the coast of Albania. While shot intelligently and beautifully, as though somebody genuinely cared, it’s a drama that tries with sincerity to infuse comedy that seems misplaced. And, find me one old stubborn Greek who would leave an Italian solider alone in the house with his babe of a daughter? Unlike most war scenes, the machine gunning of the rebellious Italian soldiers however, is done tastefully. Cage tries, though I never bought his Italian accent, almost seeming like he’s a character in the wrong movie. Hurt should be commended as the father, and Cruz is beautiful to look at but she can’t act. Not in American movies anyway. It’s good she does those Ralph ads.
