I spent the rest of my evening tonight watching Oliver Stone's ALEXANDER.
I must say, I liked a good bit of it. Like all these movies, I tired of the battle scenes. The sound and effects are all exceptional, but I've just never been a war scene fancier, and a little bit goes a long way with me.
But I had no trouble at all following the film even with a later rather abrupt flashback. I understood the reason for it, and it helped clarify in my mind some of the allegiances and petty jealousies rampant in Alexander's core of commanders.
I found it ever so much more interesting and much more artistically mounted than TROY, and to Oliver Stone's credit, the Greek ideal of man/boy love/guidance was explained by Anthony Hopkins in his opening scenes and then illustrated throughout the film, but very tastefully and respectfully. Teenaged boys and men in the audience uncomfortable with displays of affection and dedication between men obviously were going to jeer at this, but I had to admire Stone for including it. If it cost the film a great portion of the audience here in America, so be it. I saw that the film did gross over $100 million in Europe though I'm sure it will still go down in a sea of red ink in the accountants' ledgers.
I borrowed this film from a friend, but I have ordered a used copy for myself. I found it an honorable attempt at portraying a very enigmatic man.
