Yet Another Alamo

Rating: 4/10 (16 August 2011)

It's the third millennium and time for yet another revisionist movie. Most commentators seem to agree that this version of the Alamo siege is the most historically authentic of them all. Well, that's as may be. I'll have to take their word for it. I'm no student of American history.
However; it is supposed to be entertainment. It's a movie. It's not billed as a documentary, nor even a docu-drama. If I really want historical accuracy I'll opt for a documentary. Or read scholastic history books (though even they are often inaccurate). When I watch a movie, I want entertainment. I'd like authenticity too - but not at the cost of viewing pleasure.
This revisionist piece stars Billy Bob Thornton, along with wooden Mr Quaid. Adequate, but not exactly top drawer. It runs for some 2 hours 17 minutes, but - goodness me - it seems a great deal longer. I felt as though I had sat through the entire '13 days of glory'. I don't believe I have ever experienced a more gloomy, maudlin, self-indulgent piece of theatre. Incidental music assumed the substance of a dirge.
There's also a fair share of soul-searching in John Wayne's original epic, but that's offset by spectacle, comedy, and irony in the grand old style of Hollywood sagas. Wayne's 'director's cut' ran for well over 3 hours, but was hacked down to about 2 and a half for its release.
I love John Wayne's version. It may be preposterous, over-blown, and have little regard for truth. But it's a truly great movie - lavish, well-paced with progressively-building tension, and beautifully filmed. There's a script that intelligently meets every dramatic turn, with characters that are interesting and varied. And, of course, there's Big John himself - larger than life, full of panache and unique style, and a tremendously capable actor. He's balanced against Richard Widmark's surly, scathing Bowie. And the whole thing is bolted in place by a grand music score from Dimitri Tiomkin. As a movie; it's a classic tour-de-force on par with 'Zulu'.
Give me Wayne's romantic mythologising any day. As they say in 'Liberty Vallance' - when the legend becomes truth, print the legend'. Purists are welcome to Billy Bob & Wooden Quaid's revisionism; for me it's just a relentless bore and a half. Despite its presumptions of historical fidelity; I didn't enjoy watching it. And what's the point of that?
Not recommended.