Lawrence of Arabia

Rating: 8/10 (17 December 2013)

I decided to revisit this in light of O'Toole's passing, something I've been meaning to do anyway since I thought it was one of those pending 10s. Sadly, I wasn't feeling it as much this time and moved it slightly downwards instead of upwards, but it's still quite a remarkable film, and O'Toole is wonderful. For one thing I just didn't find the desert landscapes (which were the highlight last time) as jaw-dropping anymore, however vast and beautiful they still were. I can only hope I won't be desensitized to Barry Lyndon too when I revisit that. The plot as such also enthralled me less, I wouldn't say it's a chore to sit through but the three and a half hours did take their toll.
However despite being less riveted this time around it probably resonated more with me thematically than before. It's a very fascinating character study; not entirely a linear rise and fall type of movie but somewhat of a wavelike pattern of mythologization and demythologization, with Lawrence bordering on a deity at times (e.g. "You gave life and you took it. The writing is still yours."), and at other times being a very small man, highlighting the frailty of idolatry. There are these lines by Arcade Fire that I keep returning to which I think go quite well with this film as well:
"I'm standing on a stage/ Of fear and self-doubt/ It's a hollow play/ But they'll clap anyway"
I think I may have read things into Lawrence that weren't necessarily there, or projected my own demons onto him, but it's such a rich and complex character that it sort of lends itself to that. This might sound super arrogant but I really latched onto the conflict between self-loathing and at the same time thinking very highly of oneself, of thinking that you're destined for great things and the burden that comes with it, as well as the thought of "hey, maybe I could go far, but maybe I just want to settle for a common life with four walls and adobe slats". Just in the passing there is this profound conversation where a general tells Lawrence that "It's a terrible thing for a man to funk (his destiny) if he has (one),", and Lawrence goes something like "Are you speaking from experience? () You're guessing, then."