Alexander

I'm almost embarrassed to admit it, but I saw the movie while I was home visiting my folks. As a matter of fact, the prodigal son and I saw it together. Neither of us liked it. I don't think there is a good thing to be said about the film.

The first and most obviously jarring thing about the film is the inexplicable, unidentifiable, possibly eastern European accent that Angelina Jolie uses while almost everyone else in the film speaks with either an obviously English accent or a vaguely Irish one.

The second and greatest failing of the film is its attempt to be serious without being honest. Whereas we are treated to a scene where a drunken Philip tries to rape Olympias and another scene where Alexander tries to rape Roxane but winds up being ridden by her like a pony in the Kentucky Derby, the only inkling the audience has that Alexander and Hephaistion are more than drinking buddies comes from maudlin, melodramatic dialogue clothed in long, pining looks which culminate in hugs. Puh-leese!

Of the few reviews of the film I've read since seeing it - I rarely read reviews before I go to a film - the one I've enjoyed the most is Roger Ebert's. On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best, this film is a 0.