Posted on 11/24/2004 11:52:30 AM PST by EveningStar
Not content to direct a merely mediocre historical epic, filmmaker Oliver Stone marshals all of his talent as a provocateur to direct a colossally bad one in "Alexander," starring Irishman Colin Farrell as the legendary Macedonian warlord.
It's a shame, too, because mediocrity is so tantalizingly within the director's reach. Beginning with Alexander's childhood around 350 B.C., Stone drafts a standard character arc involving Alexander's accomplished but ineffectual father, King Philip (Val Kilmer); his domineering, snake-charming mother, Olympias (Angelina Jolie, butchering vowels like Natasha from "Rocky and Bullwinkle"); and his precocious success as a field commander after rising to power following his father's assassination. All of it is recounted in flashback by one of Alexander's generals, Ptolemy, now a wizened Egyptian pharaoh played by Anthony Hopkins.
(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...
I have yet to see a single good review of this movie. You gotta love it!
From what I've read, it's "Alexander the Gay."
Podhoretz described it as a huge flop and a failure in a post over at National Review's "The Corner" blog.
Said the audience he saw it with was roaring with laughter at parts of the film that were supposed to be touching and sad.
Couldn't happen to a "nicer" director, Oliver Stone. The hack.
And Angelina Jolie doesnt even take off her clothes in the movie...does she?
Ebert panned it today as well.
Alexander's story is so astonishing it would require true talent to screw it up, but Oliver Stone would be my choice to do it.
"It's a shame, too, because mediocrity is so tantalizingly within the director's reach."
Great line! And so appropriate for Stone!
Qwinn
The History Channel has been running a very good depiction of Alexander's battle strategies, portraying Alexander as a brave, resourceful, intelligent, DECISIVE leader and brilliant tactician.
If you want to learn about Alexander, get Plutarch. All the other key personalities that are biographed are gravey.
Penquin is a great source for old books.
Another Spectaluar Hollywood Blockbusting FLOP!!
The Injection of the Homosexual agenda causes this Flop to go into FLACCIDITY!
We have sent a strong message to the Hollywodd Crowd, WE DON"T WANT IT! We are not going to put up with it, Get the Scum off the Screen and Get out of our lives!! Leave!
Post the full review ping
It was Phillip of Macedon who was described as ineffectual.
Historically he made Macedon the dominant power of Greece and on much stronger demographic foundation than the ephemeral salad days of Athens, Sparta, and Thebes. As a boy hostage in Thebes, he absorbed enough tactics and organization to take back to his semi-barbarian kingdom to turn them into a great power, like Peter the Great.
And no there is no Angelina Jolie nudity in the film (buy "Gia". It's all there.) but Rosario Dawson does her first nude scene.
Yeah, except Mel's voice didn't crack and squeek like some 14 year old. Har.
Neither have I. The History Channel did a 3 hr special on Alexander a few weeks ago which was really good, probably a lot more entertaining than the theatrical release.
Just another example of training (or the lack of same.) Farrell attended a bit of drama school in his youth, but reportedly was not all that keen on doing the hard work on acting fundamentals like voice. Mel, on the other hand, attended what is arguably one of the best drama schools in the world (Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Arts) and has the acting chops to prove it. NIDA has produced some of the best actors currently working, including Geoffrey Rush, Cate Blanchett, Judy Davis, and Nicole Kidman.
Farrell has talent, but lacks discipline, and thus is likely to have less success than real pros like Rush and Blanchett.
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