Billy Bob Thorton: An Introspective US Rep David Crockett

Rating: 8/10 (5 February 2006)

I liked this version of The Alamo as much as I liked all previous ones, Last Command, The Alamo (John Wayne Version), Alamo (made for TV) and Gone to Texas. The story of how the Texians annexed the US and detached Mexico is one of bravery and courage of both Texians and Texicanos against a superior force. This version does introduce a more introspective David Crockett in the form of comic actor Billy Bob Thorton who captures much of the real David Crockett's humor in irony and introspection. David Crockett in the Billy Bob Thorton interpretation is more a captive of his public image than the Mexican forces surrounding the Alamo.
All the US versions since Last Command have treated the Mexican view in an honorable manner. This particular version adopts the Mexican account that Crockett survived the battle but was executed thereafter.
The failure of this version was in the inability to explain clearly Jim Bowies' personal devastation and in its neglect of the heroine of the Alamo legend Mrs Susan Dickenson who knitted the Texian flag in Mexican colors with the legend 1824 for the --- gasp --- liberal ---gasp --- constitution that Santa Ana usurped.