Cecchi Gori Group
Intermedia Films
Pathé
Not part of a collection.
Alexander
The greatest legend of all was real
Alexander, the King of Macedonia, leads his legions against the giant Persian Empire. After defeating the Persians, he leads his army across the then known world, venturing farther than any westerner had ever gone, all the way to India.
- Original title
- Alexander
- Language
- EN
- Country
- US
- Budget
- $155,000,000
- Revenue
- $167,298,192
CinemaSerf
Jan 7, 2023 · via TMDB
Opinion on this film seems to have been hijacked somewhat by the definition and appropriateness of the relationship between Alexander (Farrell) and Hephaestion (Leto). It seems daft to try to apply 21st century social morals onto a society in which same sex relationships were simply unremarkable. Whether or not it was about sex, or love, or both isn't really that important - I think Oliver Stone was trying to involve us in a much more complex story of human nature. It may also be more of an Anglo-Saxon thing - men on Continental Europe from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean (and their N. American descendants) have a completely different, relaxed, view towards tactility amongst men. What this discussion does do successfully, however, is distract us from a pretty lacklustre effort at an epic. The film has grandeur and style but really does lack substance. It has all the grit of a beauty pageant. The script is wordy and weak, and characterisations way too shallow given we have effectively a blank canvas from which to work and an almost unlimited timeframe in which to tell the story. Inevitably, it does draw comparisons with Richard Burton and Frederic March's version from 1956 but not favourably; the all star cast here just doesn't really gel in the same way and the CGI isn't anywhere near as convincing as the real photography of the earlier iteration. Overall, a very well resourced missed opportunity to tell the tale of one of history's most enigmatic characters.
Wuchak
Aug 10, 2021 · via TMDB
_**Alexander’s conquests from Greece through Persia into northwestern India**_ After being tutored by Aristotle (Christopher Plumber), Alexander (Colin Farrell) takes over the Macedonian throne in 336 BC at the age of 20 after his father is assassinated (Val Kilmer). Over the next 13 years he, amazingly, conquers the Persian Empire and heads into India before finally turning back. Anthony Hopkins narrates as Ptolemy in his old age while Angelina Jolie plays Alexander’s snake-loving mother. Rosario Dawson plays his wife acquired in Bactria (in what is today part of Afghanistan). Oliver Stone’s “Alexander” (2004) was a challenging undertaking and has many attributes despite not being as compelling as the contemporaneous “Troy.” It’s a colorful, entertaining epic with a great cast, awesome battle scenes, exotic locations/sets and a fine score by Vangelis. Naturally the storyline is not as one-dimensional as “Troy” seeing as how it involves a movable empire traveling across western Asia. Historically-minded critics complain about the sequence where Alexander's fatigued soldiers request not to push further into India in favor of returning to Macedonia to see their families again. Alexander denies their request and does something that paints him as an unreasonable tyrant. In real life Alexander pondered their demands for a few days before agreeing to turn back and didn't execute anyone, which showed what a compassionate, merciful leader he was. However, this dubious sequence was simply Stone’s amalgamation of several mutinies during his conquests, which was placed at that particular point in the story for dramatic reasons. Besides, the movie certainly illustrates how Alexander brought the light of civilization to his foreign subjects and was accepting of their cultures, wanting to unify the many tribes under one banner, so to speak. The scenes with Val Kilmer as Alexander’s father are entertaining while the ones with Angelina Jolie get boring after the first two or three. We get it: she loves snakes, hates her husband and thinks Zeus was Alexander’s father. Half of the sequences with Jolie could’ve been cut with no harm done, which would’ve helped momentum. I didn’t have an issue with Alexander’s relationship with his childhood friend, Hephaistion (Jared Leto), since it’s clearly depicted as platonic in the sense of David and Jonathan in the Bible (see 2 Samuel 1:26). In the film the two are depicted as having a loving friendship wherein they occasionally hug and that’s it. I occasionally hug my best friend too, but I only sleep with my hot wife. As far as Alexander being bisexual, there’s zero historical proof of this. Yes, the kiss between Alexander and Bagoas (Francisco Bosch) was mentioned by Plutarch who lived in the Roman Empire 200 years later but, assuming it happened, it doesn't mean much. Some cultures in history kissed on the mouth when greeting, like Russians; it’s a social tradition and has nothing to do with sexual desire. To put it in perspective, imagine a filmmaker saying Trump was gay 2327 years in the future even though he had numerous women, marriages and children in his life. It's slanderous and can be attributed to Stone's catering to Liberal propaganda as opposed to historical reality. In short, he played the homosexual card to be ‘hip’ and give his movie Lefty ‘edge,’ but it backfired because it bombed at the box office. Still, the scene in question is brief and all it suggests is that Alexander experimented with homosexuality once after partying which, let’s face it, is something Greeks are known for (although Alexander would argue that he’s technically Macedonian, lol). If you can ignore that glaring flaw, there’s a lot to appreciate in “Alexander” since Stone is unquestionably a top-of-the-line filmmaker. And the flick certainly inspires viewers to look up the real history. The film was shot at Pinewood Studios & Shepperton Studios, both just west of London, as well as Morocco and Thailand (it’s pretty easy to figure out which scenes were done where). There are no less than four cuts of the film available: The theatrical cut runs 2 hr 55 min (175 min); the 2005 Director’s Cut runs 2 hr 47 min (167 min); the so-called Final Cut from 2007 runs 3 hr 34 min (214 min); and the 2013 Ultimate Cut runs 3 hr 27 min (207 min). GRADE: B-
John Chard
Jun 22, 2019 · via TMDB
Alexander Revisited: The Final Cut. Alexander is directed by Oliver Stone and Stone co-writes the screenplay with Christopher Kyle and Laeta Kalogridis. It stars Colin Farrell, Val Kilmer, Angelina Jolie, Jared Leto, Anthony Hopkins, Rosario Dawson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Christopher Plummer. Music is by Vangelis and cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto. Alexander is an historical epic based on the life of Alexander the Great. Off the bat I have to say that this "Final Cut" version of the film is the only one I have seen. Upon its initial home format release - the first theatrical version - I lasted an hour and 15 minutes before growing restless and sought enjoyment elsewhere. Consequently as a massive fan of historical epics through the years, it has been a constant nagging itch for me to see Alexander in its entirety. So with Oliver Stone tinkering away with versions - convinced he has made a worthwhile epic - I finally delved in. The Final Cut, as far as I'm aware, is a vast improvement on that savagely received theatrical release, well that is said by those who tried again instead of calling quits at the first production. Straight away I could see the difference, where once was a plodding first hour, now sits a vibrancy, with Stone seemingly saying that he can do great action and drama, just please hang around during all the historical chatter, sexual connotation, family strife and conquering machinations, and I will enthral you as a whole. By his own admission, Stone reveals he took on a most complex historical character and in his eyes has made a film to befit such complexity. We get a splintered narrative, as we kick off with the crux of Alexander the Great, the leader, while Alexander's childhood and family forming is interspersed at various junctures. The battles are high in intensity and blood letting - exhilarating at times - but more crucially they let us engage with the tactical "ahead of their time" manoeuvres of Alexander the Great. This version mostly flows alright, and I got to feel how Alexander's mind was working in the process, even if come pics closure I didn't fully know the man. Epically cast of course, some of them work, others not so much. Farrell's looked odd, in the way that Pitt's was in Troy (released this same year as Alexander), but apart from the accent issue he grows into the role and is fiercely committed. Jolie is just wrong for the role of domineering Olympias, worse still the scenes she does with Farrell are damp and threaten to derail the drama already built up. This latter point is more annoying given a great thread involving Dawson as Alexander's wife Roxanne is built up superbly, only to not be pulled until some drama very late in the play. The rest of the cast come through as ok for period flavours (expected for Hopkins, Plummer and Meyers, interesting as regards Leto). This is not the life ambition masterpiece Stone wanted to make, even if he proclaims on the extras that he's happy and content with The Final Cut version. This cut still shows some cracks, but these are not seismic enough to hurt the film. For there's a lot of grandeur, blood stirring and thought gone into the production, and there's a lot to be said for that in this day and age of soulless cash making filmic exercises. Honourable failure then? Yes for sure, but a better film in this form than some may have thought possible back in 2004. 7/10
Dark Jedi
Jun 15, 2017 · via TMDB
My wife picked this one up together with the weekly TV magazine. Luckily we didn't pay full price. I hoped for a film about one of the greatest warlord of all time but what I got was something about a crying homosexual wimp.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Colin Farrell
Alexander
Angelina Jolie
Olympias
Val Kilmer
Philip
Jared Leto
Hephaistion
Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Cassander
Anthony Hopkins
Old Ptolemy
Jessie Kamm
Young Alexander
Christopher Plummer
Aristotle
Connor Paolo
Young Alexander
Peter Williamson
Young Nearchus
Morgan Christopher Ferris
Young Cassander
Rob Earley
Young Ptolemy
Aleczander Gordon
Young Perdiccas
John Kavanagh
Parmenion
Gary Stretch
Cleitus
Rosario Dawson
Roxane
Toby Kebbell
Pausanius
Fiona O'Shaughnessy
Nurse
Laird Macintosh
Greek Officer
Francisco Bosch
Bagoas
Neil Jackson
Perdiccas
Rory McCann
Crateros
Raz Degan
Darius III
Joseph Morgan
Philotas
David Bedella
Scribe
Brian Blessed
Wrestling Trainer
Nick Dunning
Attalus
Elliot Cowan
Ptolemy
Ian Beattie
Antigonus
Denis Conway
Nearchus
Michael Dixon
Campfire Soldier
Tim Pigott-Smith
Omen Reader
Erol Sander
Persian Prince
Stéphane Ferrara
Bactrian Commander
Tadhg Murphy
Dying Soldier
Annelise Hesme
Stateira
Marie Meyer
Eurydice
Mick Lally
Horse Seller
Garrett Lombard
Leonnatus
Rab Affleck
Attalus' Henchman
Féodor Atkine
Roxane's Father
Bin Bunluerit
Indian King
Jaran Ngamdee
Indian Prince
Brian McGrath
Doctor
Michelle Lukes
Roxane Dancer
Anjali Mehra
Roxane Dancer
Benny Maslov
Bagoas Dancer
Nicolas D. Blake
Palace Page (uncredited)
Max Bollinger
Young Greek Official (uncredited)
Jason Croot
Peasant (uncredited)
Dale Dye
Macedonian Veteran at Hyphasis Speech (uncredited)
Abbie Hirst
Octavia (uncredited)
Rowley Irlam
Pausanius's Accomplice (uncredited)
David Leon
Hermolaous (uncredited)
Greg Orvis
Celtic Diplomat (uncredited)
Lee Anthony Parnell
Warrior (uncredited)
John Reynolds
Dexapous (uncredited)
Oliver Stone
Macedonian Soldier at Zeus Statue (uncredited)
Stéphane Cressend
Art Direction
Tom Still
Assistant Art Director
George Richmond
"A" Camera Operator
Rodrigo Prieto
Director of Photography
Chas Bain
Focus Puller
George Richmond
Steadicam Operator
Jenny Beavan
Costume Design
Jeremy Woodhead
Makeup Designer
Nicolas Aithadi
CG Supervisor
Gary Powell
Stunt Coordinator
Rowley Irlam
Stunt Double
Levan Doran
Stunts
Mark Southworth
Stunts
Stuart Thorp
Stunts
Hicham Regragui
Transportation Coordinator
Oliver Stone
Director
Dale Dye
Second Unit Director
Mohamed Achaour
Third Assistant Director
Yvan Lucas
Colorist
Olivier Chiavassa
Digital Intermediate
John Higgins
Gaffer
Suzanne Smith Crowley
Casting
Deborah Maxwell Dion
Casting Associate
Fernando Sulichin
Co-Executive Producer
Gianni Nunnari
Co-Executive Producer
Paul Rassam
Executive Producer
Pierre Grunstein
Executive Producer
Pravesh Sahni
Line Producer
Juliette Ménager
Local Casting
Iain Smith
Producer
Jon Kilik
Producer
Oliver Stone
Producer
Santa Pestonji
Producer
Thomas Schühly
Producer
Vangelis
Music Arranger
Vangelis
Original Music Composer
Jean-Paul Mugel
Production Sound Mixer
Damien Lazzerini
Sound Recordist
Jean Goudier
Supervising Sound Editor
Wylie Stateman
Supervising Sound Editor
Rich Lee
Pre-Visualization Supervisor
Andy Taylor
Visual Effects Coordinator
Sébastien Drouin
Visual Effects Supervisor
Stephane Ceretti
Visual Effects Supervisor
Christopher Kyle
Screenplay
Laeta Kalogridis
Screenplay
Oliver Stone
Screenplay
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Nov 16, 2004
Hollywood, California
Nov 24, 2004
