Let in Conquer You!

Rating: 10/10 (29 November 2004)

To paraphrase the legendary critic Roger Ebert, some directors are so talented that their failures are often way more interesting than most directors' successes. He was speaking of David Lynch at the time, though I have no doubt that the names Welles and Coppola probably entered his mind as well.
We are in a fruitful year for movies, and for brave directors. This year has already added two names to Mr. Ebert's list above. Audiences did not see the brilliance of Kerry Conran's SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW, nor do they seem to see what a special gift Robert Zemeckis has given us with THE POLAR EXPRESS. This is too bad. These films define the very reason why we should go to see movies in a theater rather than wait for the DVD. They take us out of our ordinary lives and in to fantastic worlds where we have never gone before. These films should be cherished for the gifts that they are.
Now, along comes a maverick director cut from the same cloth as Mr. Coppola.
Oliver Stone - no matter what you think of his politics - makes films that literally bounce of the screen and deserves to be added on to Mr. Eberts list. His films pulsate with energy and life that most films do not even come close to. His big five - JFK, WALL STREET, PLATOON, BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, NIXON - are like beating hearts taped to a white screen in front of us. Every ounce of his legendary energy is sprayed on the screen like so many bullets from SCARFACE (another Stone production, initially panned by critics yet adored by fans).
Now comes Alexander, and the director is showing no signs of letting up or slowing down. Is the film flawless? Far from. Is the film great? You bet. This is a film that refuses to be pinned down by critics. It is a film of awe-inspiring beauty and brutality. Does it have some accents that need improving? You bet. Mr. Kilmer and Ms. Jolie are both in need of some dialect coaching here. Is the script flawless? Nope. But add together all the great things about the film and subtract the bad, and the fact is that this is still one hell of an experience. Much has been made of the depiction of Alexander's sexuality in this film. Is he gay? Nope. He's bi if you ask me. Is there gay love in the film? Yup. Is there some gay sex between Colin Farrell and Jared Leto? Nope. (All gay sexual content is hinted at, which is a little surprising considering how much hoopla has been made about it in the press). Are there strong FEMALE leads in the film? Yes. Not one, but two as Rosario Dawson and Angelina Jolie play tug-of-war as to who should really walk away with the film. And finally, there is one of the most spectacular battle scenes ever put on film.
So the final question is, should you treat yourself and spend some bucks on this spectacle? Hell yes!