Alexander perhaps Oliver Stone's crowning achievement

Rating: 8/10 (25 September 2005)

With Gladiator, Braveheart, Saving Private Ryan and The Last of the Mohicans being at the top of my favourites list of movies, it is safe to say that I am an avid follower of movies that is set against a historic background. With Alexander, I expected much of the same.
Knowing the history of Alexander and having seen the different trailers, I expected a feast of action and battles of epic proportions, not to mention a screenplay such as only Oliver Stone can dream up. What I got, however, was more of the latter and less of the former.
The point I'm trying to bring across is: not always getting what you expect, is often far more satisfying in the end.
Instead of focusing on Alexander's feats and achievements, we are instead shown WHY he he did what he did. What motivated him? Colin Farrell portrays Alexander as a human being who achieved feats worthy of the Gods his character tries to equal. He brings emotion and compassion to such an extraordinary human being, in being able to coldly issue order to kill some of his childhood friends, while also being able to instantly rally all of his men to follow him a few months longer.
Angelina Jolie as his mother is spot-on as his cunning mother, although her accent is a little too over-the-top. And Anthony Hopkins, in perhaps the most difficult role in the movie as narrator, turns in an emotionally charged and awe-inspiring few minutes.
There is not one member of the cast that does not deliver what is required, but one that stands out is Val Kilmer in a binding performance.
The cinematography is excellent. To me the most beautiful scene in the entire movie is at Gaugamela in the dessert when, in the middle of the battle, Alexander spots Darius and mounts his horse to go after his father's enemy. Accompanied by Vangelis' powerful score, this scene gave me goosebumps.
"Alexander" delivers a tour de force through the mind of an individual who was ahead of his time. What an incredible movie this was!