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This has to put in an early claim for most underrated film of the year. It was lambasted by critics and passed over by moviegoers, but it does not deserve its unwelcome reputation. It's not perfect by any means, and there is the feeling that there's just too damn much for Oliver Stone to fit in, but it is still way better than the similarly-themed Troy. I thought Colin Farrell was actually very good in the title role, and the use of his natural accent didn't jar like I thought it might (admittedly, though, Angelina Jolie's accent was terrible and also inconsistent with all the other characters). Unfortunately there is the feeling that some parts are skipped over that shouldn't have been, such as the start of Alexander's campaign. It's never really explained why he left on his travels in the first place. When the film intermittently hits its stride, it soars: the battle of Gaugamela is brilliantly portrayed, and some of the production design is breathtaking, particularly Babylon. The narration is definitely needed to link the film together, but sometimes it sounded to me a bit too much like a historian talking in the present day, rather than Ptolemy himself just 40 years after Alexander's death. Vangelis' score was suitably rousing in places and slightly grating in others, but overall I found it satisfyingly different from most orchestral scores. The end title music in particular is just right. I heard a rumour that Oliver Stone might completely re-edit the film for DVD, which sounds like a great idea to me. There certainly is a wonderful film in there somewhere.
The summary
Oliver Stone's daring take on Alexander reflects the spirit of the man himself. It's unwieldy at times but certainly engrossing too.
