Colin Farrell in a skirt.
Rather than increasing the ratings, this disturbing image only contributed to the downfall of this terrible movie.
Oliver Stone directs this epic of a movie that ultimately fails to create a gripping storyline of Alexander the Great's life. Though many members of big Hollywood are in the movie, this vague and rather tedious film ends up in the "long and out there" pile, along with many of Stone's films.
Anthony Hopkins strays from killing and eating people in this film and plays the narrator. The film really begins when Alexander was just a young boy.
Right away an insight into Alexander's home life is revealed through a fight scene with his mother (Angelina Jolie) and father (Val Kilmer). Although they were both loving parents, they shared no love for each other.
Each parent affected Alexander's life in a different way. Jolie departed her knowledge, while Kilmer taught him to be the best. There were certain barriers in the film that made it hard to listen to this knowledge being passed down to him. Jolie's obsession with snakes in the film and her thick, seemingly-Transylvanian accent would make it hard for anyone to understand her.
As an adult, Alexander is on his way to be king, and must marry and leave a successor. This proves difficult for Alexander since his sexual preference is questionable. He shares many kisses with other men and has a lot of eye contact with his boyhood friend (Jared Leto).
In the meantime, a Persian man assassinates Alexander's father. Alexander takes the throne and begins his quest to conquer Persia in revenge of the death of his father. Along his way he ends up taking a bride. This still doesn't change the fact that he loves Leto's character, but it helps him leave a successor.
Alexander returns home after years of being away, and his life abruptly ends at the age of 32.
Throughout his long journey of dramatic battles, a lot of information about Alexander's life is left out.
I walked into the movie with little hope for Farrell's ability to portray Alexander.
By the end, my original misgivings were shared by the rest of the audience. None of the acting was really any good. The movie dragged on for three hours, but never really went anywhere. The camera movement was horrible during the fight scenes to the point of making you feel lost and not know what was going on. The only part I liked about the movie was getting to leave. I don't even think a shot of Brad Pitt naked (as he was often in "Troy") could have helped "Alexander."
Overall, Alexander was three hours of bad story and bad acting.
Reach the reporter at brian.kirshman@asu.edu.
