VERY GOOD FILM, BUT NOT BOLD ENOUGH, I WOULD Definitely RECOMMEND

Rating: 10/10 (26 November 2004)

I saw this film on thanksgiving. I really liked many elements about the film. However, I can see what people are saying about the accents. Practically for the first quarter, I had to try to figure out or ask my friend what the characters were saying. They were laying on the accents so heavy, and by the way they did soung all like irish accents, that well what can I say. With the withholding of emotion between Alexander and his "lover", I believe that might have created a detachment from the viewers perspective. I you want to indulge into his sexuality... THEN DO IT, don't play with the audience or better yet do go puritanical after choosing to focus on the sexuality and male to male relationship of the characters. I'm sure the did a lot more tan just embrace. Pushing an Agenda as others say... why not, but If you are going to go there, be like President Bush, determined and resolved to dig into his homosexual side, which we all got by the beginning what he had going on.
The film however was BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED AND PHOTOGRAPHED. I'm not sure about Colin in the lead for this film, but he seemed to be more comfortable in his role in the second half of the film. Also, the film could have been trimmed a good half hour. After a while, I started to look at my watch (which is not a good sign) in as much as I was gripped into the story. I'm sorry we live in time were Mr. Stone or the studios executives might have failed in fully doing what they seem they were set out to do off the back which is to tell the story of the Great Alexander as well as his personal romantic interludes. However, I commend all of the people who helped to bring this project to fruition. I understand how hard it is to put a film together, whether its 100,000 or 200 million. Great effort!