Ben-Hur

Old Hollywood epics are, as the kids used to say, a whole-ass mood. The costumes, the sets, the melodramatic acting, the scope and scale, all of these are components of that genre of movie. But there are also some intangibles that belong to the imprint, things that can't be quantified, but you know them if you see them. Gone With The Wind is an Old Hollywood epic, but Around The World In 80 Days isn't. Doctor Zhivago is but The Sound Of Music isn't. It's one of those things you can't define in words, but you know it when you see it. It is also a style of movie I have yet to really enjoy. Appreciate, sure. No production on the level of something like Ben-Hur, can't be appreciated. It is a movie of monumental dimensions from a technical aspect. Massive sets and on-location shooting, elaborate Technicolor costuming, cinematography that captures the scale and scope of the world, acting honed to go after that dramatic jugular, a sweeping score, all of it is here, and all of it works without once ever feeling like a narcissistic indulgence or a waste of money. Ben-Hur is iconic for a reason, for many reasons, and nothing I can say could ever even attempt to ding that reputation. So, when you look at the score of this movie, and the brevity of the review, and this part justifying it all coming after effusive praise, you might be confused. It all comes back to me just not clicking with the Old Hollywood epic. Ben-Hur was not the movie to change that. It's just too long for me, the acting too melodramatic, the story too belabored and bloated. Trim this down by an hour or so, and we might be having a different conversation. But the bloat in this movie drained the life out of me, especially when the movie hit its emotional and narrative climax with the chariot race and still had forty-five minutes to go, all of which were spent on a sequence that felt like an unnecessary epilogue. I won't sit here and say with a straight face this isn't an epic movie deserving of its reputation. The chariot scene alone is worth the price of admission (even if, it too, goes on too long). And from a technical standpoint, this is a how-to course in film-making, even in the 21st century. No self-respecting movie lover should miss this movie. I'm glad I saw it. I respect it. I admire it. I just don't love it.