Why So Much Bad Press...?

Rating: 8/10 (25 September 2005)

I never saw this film at the cinema, so I had to settle for renting the DVD. I'd heard how drawn out it was and how muddled some of the historical data was and didn't really find either situation to be true. Colin Farrell is one hell of an actor (if people can separate the boozing, womanising guy he is in reality from his craft) who doesn't always get the respect he deserves. I was a little sketchy on the idea of Angelina Jolie playing his mother but she came through brilliantly, chewing up the role and making it her own. After awhile, it wasn't Jolie PLAYING a part, she BECAME the part. She's another good actor who's personal life often overshadows her ability. Val Kilmer is always good, and it was wonderfully refreshing to see both Anthony Hopkins and Christopher Plummer on screen again. Jared Leto also was a pleasant surprise in the role of Hephaistion, bringing a cool, low key presence to the part. I'd read a comment somewhere that having the actors use an Irish accent was silly but I didn't notice it after awhile. It seems that when North American accents are used or even English accents, it's more accepted. Again, after awhile, you don't really notice it and it DOES keep some continuity amongst the characters and their nations of origin and so forth. Good film, good action, great acting.