Well-Photographed, Spellbinding Epic

Rating: 8/10 (15 June 2010)

Lawrence of Arabia is a beautifully filmed, old style epic describing the life and adventures of T. E. Lawrence. It succeeds on several fronts: as a character study, a rousing adventure, and a condemnation of imperialism.
As a character study, Peter O'Toole is excellent as Lawrence, getting into the psyche of a complex and not always sympathetic historical figure. We see the personality traits that enabled Lawrence to achieve greatness, while also seeing how fame affected him, for both good and ill. The other performances are also good, particularly Omar Sharif and Alec Guinness.
Furthermore, the film, though long, never drags. The mixture of beautiful photography of desert landscapes and epic battle scenes keeps the film engaging throughout. The evolution of O'Toole's Lawrence helps, preventing him from becoming a boring cardboard hero.
Given this film's subject matter, it is open to potential accusations of Orientalism and exoticizing the Arab people. Although the film spends a lot of time on Arab culture and its differences from Western culture, its ultimate message is in opposition to imperialism. It clearly denounces the European bureaucrats who divided up the Middle East in the wake of World War I. Its condemnation is relevant not only to historical events, but also to the current Middle Eastern conflict.
Ultimately, no film can substitute for a good work of historical scholarship, and those interested in Lawrence should consult a book if they want to know the full story. That said, this is a cinematic experience that no one should miss.