There are bad movies that make you physically angry and
offended and then there are bad movies that just make you really bored. “Ben
Hur” (the fifth film adaptation of Lew Wallace’s historical/religious novel
about Romans, revenge and redemption, the most notable version being the 1959
Technicolor epic directed by William Wyler) fits into the latter category.
It’s simultaneously bland and heavy-handed--presenting its
religious themes and messages with the subtlety of a Cat o’ nine tales against
your bare back. For those who’ve seen the iconic Wyler film, this new version
(directed by Timur Bekmambetov) is an abridged rehash with more dirt and mud,
cheap looking CGI, atrocious shaky cam and quick cutting. For those who haven’t
seen or heard of the Wyler film it’s like a watered-down faith based “Gladiator.”
The film revolves around Jewish Prince Judah Ben-Hur (Jack
Huston) who’s betrayed by his adopted brother/Roman officer Messala (Toby
Kebbell) and sentenced to a slow death in slavery. Ben-Hur manages to hang on
and returns to his homeland, full of hatred and seeking revenge but ultimately
learns to forgive through faith…and Jesus Christ himself. That’s the gist of
both versions, although Bekmambetov and screenwriters Keith R Clarke and John
Ridley choose to spend around fifteen minutes on the stuff leading up to the
betrayal, namely the background on Ben-Hur and Messala’s relationship.
That’s all well and good except that the rest of the picture
(the betrayal, Ben-Hur’s stint as a rower on a massive Roman army ship, his
meet up with the Arab Sheik Ilderim etc.) feels so rushed. The 59’ film was a leisurely
three and a half hours while this one is that same three and half hour story crammed
into just over two hours. I get that a three hour film isn’t viable in modern
Hollywood but then why try to be so faithful to the ’59 version?
So much of the movie is insipid and tired plotting, bouncing
from one familiar beat to another. We get voice over narration at the beginning
and end. About eighty percent of the dialogue is characters boringly explaining
the plot or character motivations to each other. Practically every scene and
critical moment in the narrative is telegraphed. Morgan Freeman stars as Ilderim--
playing the same wise and wisecracking character he’s played countless times
except with dreadlocks. Freeman doesn’t do much acting but he’s the only one
who looks like he’s having any fun and in the scenes between him and Ben-Her
there’s a microscopic semblance of repartee and playfulness that the rest of
the movie is lacking.
The film’s emotional/spiritual climax and subsequent
resolution is rushed and utterly ham fisted. Ben-Hur’s transformation comes too
abruptly and is sounded out for us as if we’re a bunch of ten year olds.
Speaking of sounding things out for us, the picture’s
religious component is heavy-handed to say the least, making the ’59 version
look subtle by comparison. A lot of this has to do with the depiction of Jesus
himself. In the ’59 version we never saw his face or his body straight on and
he never spoke, evoking both a sense of mystery and importance. He was also
used sparingly, making his few appearances more significant. In the 2016 movie we
get more scenes of Jesus (Rodrigo Santoro), shown full on, talking and talking…and
talking. Every time he opens his mouth it’s to hammer home the film’s themes of
brotherhood, love, forgiveness and belief in God. Even when he’s on the cross
he has enough strength to talk out loud to his father, asking him to take mercy
on the people who did this. Seriously, leave something for us to get on our
own. How is it that a 1950’s studio epic had a better depiction of Jesus?
This shallow, overly preachy treatment of the Lord and
Savior ultimately diminishes his presence in the film, turning him into a cardboard
cutout spouting strained “Jesus-isms.” I realize the religion/faith element is
what makes “Ben-Hur” “Ben-Hur” but, like everything else in this new version,
it’s spoon fed to you.
“Ben Hur” is a waste of time, a one hundred million dollar
historical epic that fails to be exciting or epic. A film about religion and
spirituality with little nuance or finesse.
D+
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