Alexander - A mixed bag

Well, I just knew it, the minute I saw Angelina Jolie in the trailer uttering the words 'He Is Alexander The Great' as if she were Aaliyah in Queen of the Damned that we were headed for trouble. And it looks like Alexander, which was supposed to have Oscar written all over it (Oliver Stone doing a sword and sandal epic, the aforementioned Jolie as part of a great cast).

I have to see the picture for myself, but it looks like its reviews are mixed at best. Rolling Stone's Peter Travers gives the film one star out of four, Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gliberman a C- (calling the film 'deeply flawed'). The New York Times review hails the films well shot battle scenes but also chastizes the filmmaker for 'puerile writing, confused plotting, shockingly off-note performances and storytelling.' Meanwhile New York Magazine wants to hail Stone for doing an 'honorable honest job' in portraying the great warrior. Its been suggested in some places that people maybe upset by the fact that Stone beat Baz Luhrmann in the race to get an Alexander film made. Also, depending on which side of the pink fence you sit on, the title character is too gay or not gay enough. You decide.

With the exception of JFK , I have found all of Oliver Stone's films overly long and pretentious, but they have always kept my interest no matter how flawed. I have a hunch that I will feel the same way about this picture once I get around to seeing it. Either way, don't expect to hear the words 'and the Oscar goes to, Colin Farrell' anytime soon.