Cheap propaganda disguised as cheap romance

Rating: 2/10 (19 August 2017)

Not this or any year's English Patient, the Ottoman Lieutenant plays out like a quickly written discount romance novel. A headstrong Philadelphian heiress bumps from one adventure to another. There is no denying any of her whims. Handsome men are readily available to compete for her pure heart, but the tall exotic one, of course, is who really makes her blush. Never once is anyone bothered by her not wearing a headscarf in this fantasy version of old Turkey. Ben Kingsley shows up to throw away yet another world-weary supporting role.
Outright revolting is how the movie sleazily attempts to excuse the Armenian genocide by depicting the Armenians as lowlife bandits and traitors that were no doubt asking for what came to them. Standing in for the presumed (but eventually non-existent) American audience, our heiress thinks it is best to stay silent about the mass murders the Turkish government carried out, and it very much seems that is what the movie wants rest of the Americans do as well.
While the movie has all the characteristics of a failed Hollywood production, it is produced by a Turkish company. Production money has been lavish, and the sets, costumes and locations are all top notch, to the extent that one wonders how much the Turkish government was involved.