Deserves more respect

Rating: Null/10 (18 April 2004)

The Alamo hasn't received the amount of respect it truly deserves. It's been quite unfairly criticized by many, calling it an American Pride film. Of course very few seem to realize that this movie has little to do with America. This movie is about Texas seeking it's independance from Mexico to become a country, not a state. The movie is telling a true story of a fight for independence, and in my opinion it does it well.
The movie could have very easily become one of two things. It could have taken the road of a movie like Gladiator and chosen action over story, or it could have gone down the path of Gods and Generals and chosen story and character study over action. I don't think there's necessarily anything wrong with either style, except that it wouldn't have worked for this movie. Instead, the movie finds a perfect balance between the two. It gives you enough action to be entertained, while giving enough story and character building to make you actually care what happens.
The performances were spectacular. Billy Bob Thornton, who I normally don't like, plays Davy Crockett with a huge amount of charisma and class. Instead of playing him as the bear wrestling king of the wild frontier, he plays him as the Congressman caught in a fight that he didn't plan on being in.

Dennis Quaid plays Sam Houston with the most power he's displayed since Great Balls of Fire. His performance as the slightly egotistical, alcoholic General is near Oscar worthy in my opinion and deserves to be recognized as such.
Jason Patric gives my favorite and best performance in the movie. He plays by far the most complex character and never goes over the top with it. Every moment he was on screen my attention was completely on him. He was able to stand next to Dennis Quaid and Billy Bob Thornton and steal the show away from them. Overall, Jason Patric gives the best performance of this year so far, and I believe it will probably hold up as one of the best by the end of the year.
As far as I'm concerned, The Alamo did not dissapoint. It knew what it wanted to be and it did it well. The Alamo masters it's style and is the best it can be for the type of movie it is.