Alexander
Directed by: Oliver Stone
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie, Val Kilmer, Jared Leto.
Rated: R for violence and some sexuality/nudity
Parental Notes: With plenty of violence and two near-rapes, his is not a movie for youngsters or preteens, although mature teens may like its interesting portrait of the conqueror.
This long-awaited biopic of the famous Macedonian conqueror, Alexander the Great, falls far short of its potential in examining this fascinating historical figure. Those who study Alexander in depth know that he was a complex person, capable of immense brutality against those who betrayed him but also capable of treating those he conquered with great compassion. He married and had children, but his strongest emotional bond was with Hephastion, a man he grew up with. He lived in times very different from ours, when sexuality was not viewed in the simplistic way it is now – romantic and sexual relationships between men were common then, with heterosexual marriage being as much a business transaction and a way to provide heirs as anything else.
Oliver Stone appears to have set out to make a historically accurate film, one true to the spirit of who Alexander was. He includes some of Alexander’s brutality as well as his compassion. Stone even includes the immensely strong bond between Alexander and Hephastion, but robs it almost entirely of any sexuality, leaving the homoerotic side of Alexander’s nature for his relationship with a young Persian man – but even that is heavily sanitized so as to be at least vaguely acceptable to mainstream America. Stone has included quotes directly from some of the early histories of Alexander, but also omits or alters a number of important facts.
“Alexander” begins with the conqueror’s death, narrated by an old Ptolemy (Anthony Hopkins), one of Alexander’s cadre and later the ruler of Egypt. Ptolemy provides a framework for the film, giving voiceovers to link together the episodes which make up the first half of the film. We see Alexander’s parents, the mysterious and manipulative Olympias (Angelina Jolie) and the angry and battle-scarred Philip (Val Kilmer, in some amazing prosthetics), fighting. Alexander and his mother are pushed aside when Philip takes a second wife, but then Philip is killed and Alexander becomes king.
He uses his new power to being the amazing conquests for which he is famous, and the battle scenes everyone has been waiting for can really get going. We watch as Alexander works his way across Asia, conquering first the Persians, then working his way down into India where he finally meets his match and his men rebel.
The battle sequences are strong, but rely a bit too much on shaky, hand-held camera cinematography and slow motion. It would have been nice to see a bit more of the strategy of this brilliant general, who was leading armies in his teenage years. Although there’s plenty of blood and gore, it’s not gratuitously lingered upon, which is rather nice. However, those hoping for an action-heavy film along the lines of “Gladiator” will be disappointed – the battle scenes here are of secondary importance, and far more attention is given to the experiences that made Alexander who he was and the choices he made while building his empire.
Colin Farrell does an excellent job of showing both Alexander’s good intentions and his hot-bloodedness. With Farrell in the role, it’s easy to see why men both loved and feared the young ruler, who knew his army so well he could call to the men by name and remind them of their past glories and the families they fight for. Farrell also brings to life the difficult relationships Alexander had with his parents who alternately coddled, encouraged, manipulated, and used him as a pawn in their battles against each other.
Overall, “Alexander” is an interesting study both of the character of the man and of the difficulties inherent in telling so complex a story can present in our times. It is likely that Stone’s film will be studied in later years because of what it changed and left out, not because of what it included. This is a film likely to enrage conservatives and history buffs, but it will probably be enjoyed by those who enjoy a decent sword and sandal epic and enjoy seeing lots of attractive men in ancient outfits.