Perhaps worst of all is the dreadful sucking sound I hear when I dare to wonder what exactly Oliver Stone was trying to say with this film. That Alexander had a mean dad and a crazy mom? That he expanded his empire... for no reason? That he was bisexual? None of these even comes close to a reason for making a three fucking hour movie.
Again: This poor, poor film.
I agree completely with ibis. Alexander, the story, is a great thing, but the execution of the plot was horrible. It seemed there were several attempts at making an overall theme and meaning to the story, but failed. What struck me as a strength was the recognition that for Alexander, there was no distinction between myth and life. He was Zeus, he was Oedipus, he was Achilles. His mother was "older, and stranger" Asia, his mother was Medea, his mother was Rhea. His father Cronus, and so on. His Roxanna was Olympias, and the cycle, like all myth, continues.
Perhaps it's the Seven Soldiers leaking into my brian, but the film could've been made stronger if they'd left out all the childhood crap except the time in the cave with his father, and left the mystery for the end. Angelina was a wasted commodity. A correspondance with her, though probably historically false, would've strengthened the fear Alexander felt and ambition.
The cultural exchange and revolution that Alexander wrought, his most distinguishing characteristic, was dealt with, but never shown. For him, Asia and Europe was his parents, and he sought a more perfect union. The union was made, but even that theme was failed. One might think the bisexuality could've served as another opportunity to marry the genders/continents/passions, but that's entirely my opinion.
I wish they could have another swing at bat. |
And Colin Farrell is a decent actor but seems really miscast here. and blonde hair on him looks very silly.