Simply Awful.

Rating: 3/10 (15 September 2005)

More evidence that Oliver Stone continues to provide over-the-top crap. Way over-dramatized, over-acted, and overdone. Factually inaccuracies can be put down to artistic license, but Stone's love affair with pomp & ceremony just get ridiculous in this poor attempt at an epic. From the very opening minute to the end of Anthony Hopkin's final soliloquy, Stone seems at a loss as to how to make this work. Perhaps that's unfair: not the opening minute - Brian Blessed's performance as the 'Wrestling Trainer' was one of the few stand-outs. How Oliver Stone manages to realize such histrionic performances from such storied actors is truly testament to his lack of vision. Given the strength of the actors that are involved in the production, one can only assume that the blame lies squarely with Stone's direction. If you feel the urge to watch this movie - Do yourself a favour, just say 'no'.