Augustus
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Movie Reviews of Augustus
Movie Review: Augustus/DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
You sent the DVD for a zone 1 showing/I'm in zone 2: Thus not possible to play on my system.Thanks! T. JohnsonMovie Review: Augustus
Summary: 5 Stars
The story seemed to be more authentic than earlier productions from the 1950's/60's; more realistic.Movie Review: Augustus with Peter O'toole
Summary: 5 Stars
Loved it! A must have for anyone who enjoyed I, Claudius or "Rome" on HBO.Movie Review: An Italian mini-series on how Octavius became Augustus
Summary: 4 Stars
The transformation of Octavian, the youngest member of the Second Triumvirate, into August, the first Roman emperor, is one of the most fascinating rises to power in ancient history. But his story has only recently become of interest to those who make television mini-series, what with the ABC 2005 summer mini-series "Empire" and 2003 Italian mini-series, "Imperium: Augustus." The former is clearly influenced by the Oscar-winning film "Gladiator," with the fictional gladiator who is created to watch over and educate the young Octavius. The latter can trace its lineage back to the celebrated BBC mini-series "I, Claudius," which elevated familial backstabbing to high art.
Most of the time we have seen depictions of the young Octavian, in movies like "Cleopatra" to HBO's current mini-series "Rome," and rarely the elder Augustus. But "Augustus" is interested in both, and there is a sense in which the story here is about the birth and death of the title character, showing how Octavius (Benjamin Sadler) became the emperor, and how Augustus (Peter O'Toole) dealt with the question of who would come after him when he died. Octavius was only eighteen when his uncle, Julius Caesar, was assassinated, and it was assumed Caesar's heir was too young. So part of the reason for his success was that he was underestimated by Mark Antony and Marcus Lepidus, the other members of the Second Triumvirate.
The key to the character of Augustus can be found in his insistence that he never used the title "imperator," but rather "princeps" ("first citizen"). While preserving the trappings of the Roman Republic, Augustus ruled as an autocrat for more than four decades, ending a century of civil war and giving Rome the "Pax Romana" era of peace and prosperity, as well as imperial greatness. "Augustus" does reflect these ideas to the extent that Augustus is not depicted as a tyrant or despot once he is in power. But that is because it is Octavian who sells his soul, agreeing to submit names for the purge that claims Cicero (Gottfried John) and everybody else who stands in their way.
For this mini-series the parallel ends points are when Octavian becomes the ruler of Rome and when Augustus dies, but this misses the historical fact that it was what he did once he got absolute power that truly defined the man. Octavian disbanded his armies and held elections, where he was elected consul, and returned power to the Roman Senate. What we see instead, is Augustus out for a walk with the citizens of Rome applauding. Augustus famously declared that "found Rome brick and left it marble," but it is his friend, Agrippa (Ken Duken) who apparently expires to be an architect. Then there is the flamboyant Maecenas (Russell Barr), who provides pragmatic political advice and comic relief in almost equal measure.
O'Toole plays the weary Augustus at the end of his life, with the justification for the willingness for his life to end communicated by his tone more than by the events that unfold. In this version his wife, Livia, whether young (Martina Stella) or old (Charlotte Rampling), is presented as being more lucky and evil in getting her way. The big question is why Augustus is unable to do anything other than make his daughter, Julia (Vittoria Belvedere), an unwilling pawn in his failed machinations.
Where the screenplay by Eric Lerner ("Dracula's Curse") also fails is when he tries to get creative. After a century of civil war as the legions of Octavius and Antony (Massimo Ghini) approach each other the soldiers start recognizing friends and relatives on the other side, which is pretty good for people all dressed alike on opposite ends of a battle field and not exactly a novel situation given Roman history at that point. Even with the threats of the centurions, the soldiers refuse to fight and the two leaders decide to make a deal instead, which simply creates a laughable scene. Fortunately "Augustus" does better when dealing with large numbers of citizens or Senators standing around in togas.
Movie Review: Worthy of Comparison to "I, Claudius", But Certainly Not Its Equal
Summary: 4 Stars
I came by this DVD through Amazon's links ("If you like this, you may also like....") and reading the reviews on this site. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this made-for-television drama.
Frankly, I come to any filmed historical drama with a sense that the actual history will always be "bent" to fit the narrative point-of-view, so any omissions or embellishments of fact and character don't bother me unless they are egregious enough to ruin the entire enterprise. I don't think that's the case here. Historical dramas bring the characters to life and are great points of departure for further serious study. Besides, as others have pointed out, it's fun to compare and contrast with other dramas depicting the same subject matter.
Watching the young and old Augustus in juxtaposed scenes was fascinating; one can easily see how the one grew to be the other.
The very first thing that struck me visually was the blazingly colorful garb of the teeming Roman populace as the elder Augustus was strolling through the stark white marble Forum. Is this an embellishment of fact? If so, it certainly made for a visually exhilarating scene.
Other scenes and visual cues are equally stunning:
-The beautiful waterfall which the young Octavius and Agrippa pass on their way to Gaul and from which an older Agrippa will eventually build a massive aquaduct to feed the city of Rome.
-The encampment, massing, and marching of Caesar's legions in Gaul as they prepare to do battle with the forces of Sextus.
-The dark streets and back alleys of Rome where the young Octavius first sets eyes upon a vibrant young Livia and rescues her from waylay.
-The beautiful halls and baths of the imperial residence.
-The interior and exterior of the Senate, bathed in marble and clean white senatorial togas.
-The Roman Forum itself, though of a scale smaller than one is used to seeing in older big budget epics. I still found it magnificent.
-The face-off between the armies of Augustus and Mark Antony against a backdrop of the crashing rocky Mediterranean shore.
-The ice baths which were prescribed for the elderly Augustus and which chilled this passive viewer to the bone.
-The visual interplay of the "three young amigos"--Augustus, Agrippa, and Maecenas--which was always well-shot and acted. Very entertaining!
-The placing of the smiling death mask by Livia on the dying Augustus; a shot that bookends the production to fine effect.
These are but a few of the beautifully staged and filmed scenes to be found in this presentation. It certainly wasn't lost on the filmmakers that television is a "visual" medium.
However, I must echo other reviewers on the staging of the one actual battle scene. When Ceasar's army was approaching the garrison of Sextus, I was fully expecting the army to form the "testudo", or tortoise formation, in defense against Sextus' initial volley of arrows. It didn't happen. Instead, Caesar's initial wave was slaughtered wholesale. Hardened legionaries dying by having their scutum shields outstretched to their sides leaving themselves fully exposed defies all credibility, especially in close-up. Very poorly done. Caesar's army should know better!
Also, when the armies of Mark Antony and Augustus face-off by the sea, the verbal recognition of family members on the opposing army felt way too contrived. Whether or not it actually happened this way is immaterial. When Antony's army refused to fight...well...the scene may have served a purpose in the narrative but it certainly didn't serve cogency. If Grant and Lee were commanding these armies it would've been a different story!
I have no problem with any of the acting or soapish political machinations. Peter O'Toole and Charlotte Rampling were great as the imperial couple. The supporting cast served the narrative well. Next stop, the history books!
All told, a "thumbs up" and four stars. Any fan of the period should enjoy this.