Augustus
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Movie Reviews of Augustus
Movie Review: An Excellent Mini-Series
Summary: 4 Stars
I discovered Augustus purely by change but I am glad that I did because this Italian television production is very good. I was thinking that Augustus would be something of a soap opera like HBO's Rome but it is an intelligent and well-written telling of Augustus' life. There are instances where events have been changed and people are left out of the story but to be able to fit the main events of Augusts' life into a 3 hour program is a remarkable achievement.
The story opens with an assassination attempt on Augustus which serves to remind us that there were plot against his life despite his image of unparalleled popularity. On the same day, he also learns that Agrippa has died (12 BCE) and this causes him to have a long conversation with his daughter Julia (whom he is forcing to marry Tiberius against both their wills) concerning his start in politics as the heir of his granduncle Julius Caesar. It was good to see the relationship of Caesar and Octavian depicted in detail although the tactics used for the battle of Mundus seemed amateurish with Caesars troop running toward the enemy rather than a disciplined march. My wife and I got caught up in the story as it unfolded from flashback to flashback. Agrippa and Maecenas are nicely cast and I particularly liked the outlandish way Maecenas was depicted with his flashy clothes and abrupt way of speaking to Octavian. The role of Anthony (Massimo Ghini) is nicely cast, looking square-jawed like the portraits of the real Anthony, and his Cleopatra is glamorous, sexy and coolly direct when it comes to politics. There are several characters missing such as three of Julia's children (her daughters Agrippina and Julia and Agrippa Posthumous) and Octavia's son Marcellus and her daughters by Anthony to name just a few. However, it does not fatally flaw the program since the focus is more on what Augustus is relating about his early life. I did miss a few characters, such as Drusus, Tiberius' brother, but I take that as a compromise for the three hour time limitation whereas I, Claudius spent 14 hours to tell its story.
It is needless to say that Peter O'Toole is perfectly cast as the aged Augustus and Charlotte Rampling makes a very cool and intelligent Livia. The younger Augustus (played by Benjamin Sadler) is very well played and truly shines in the role while Julia (Victoria Belvedere) is beautifully played and compared to past Julia's (particularly from I, Claudius) she has the passion and emotional range that the daughter of Augustus needs. The set designs are wonderful with the house of Augustus represented as an elegant and comfortable home but not a massive palace which squares with the house we know today. Some of the costumes are lacking in imagination and Caesar's soldiers lacked the typical segmented armor that they wore for a costume made out of leather but I am sure the production was forced to limit expenses. The Roman Forum is an impressive set. I don't think that I, Claudius was a better production; many of the sets in that series were reused and sometimes their decoration (especially when a bust of second century emperor Antoninus Pius appears in Augustus' house) lacked variety.
In short, an engaging telling of Augustus' life that makes him and his family into believable people rather than a stereotype. This is a thought provoking mini-series that with Peter O'Toole's performance brings the first emperor of Rome to life.
Movie Review: All that was Rome
Summary: 4 Stars
AUGUSTUS (also known as IMPERIUM: AUGUSTUS) is a film made for television, which could explain how its three and one half hour length would be spread over at least three nights. This movie was made with an obvious plentiful budget, sponsored by the Italian government and US filmmakers, and the result is a complex and nicely detailed biographical study of the first Emperor of Rome, Augustus Caesar, the man whose reign spanned the BC/AD time frame with all the attendant changes in world geography and history and religious orders. It was a time of Rome's greatness and a time of Rome's disintegration.
Writer Eric Lerner and Director Roger Young wisely elected to tell this tale as a series of flashbacks as recalled by the aged, dying Augustus brilliantly portrayed by Peter O'Toole. His very presence gives the project credibility and dignity and helps the viewer forgive any of the many shortcomings that dot this epic. Augustus is attended by his wife Livia (again, a wise choice in casting the always superb Charlotte Rampling to bring this odd woman to life). With some adroit camera superimpositions of the old Augustus' face the story goes back in time to the death of Julius Caesar, the one who appointed the young Augustus (Benjamin Sadler) to be his successor. It is 42 BC and the young Augustus, together with his sidekicks Agrippa (Ken Duken) and Maecenas (Russell Barr in a foppish turn), struggle through the Senate, the noblemen, and the poor people of Rome who all have been ignored during Julius Caesar's infamous wars to expand the Empire. The complicated lineage to the 'throne' of Rome is manipulated by Julia (Vittoria Belvedere), Marc Antony (Massimo Ghini), Tiberius (Michele Bevilacqua) and Iullus (Juan Diego Botto), the son of Marc Antony, among many others.
Along the way we meet Cleopatra (Anne Valle) and Cicero (Gottfried John) and many of the other casually dropped names of Roman history. Though the names and the changes of who is ruling who at any one time can be confusing to even the most astute Roman historian, the writer and director do their best to make this story flow so that it all is of a piece. The acting is superb for the leads, adequate for the secondary roles, and the camera work manages to make the numerous battlefield sequences seem cogent.
In the end is the beginning: the death of Augustus. A casual mention is made that during his reign there was born in the land of Judea a child whose name was Jesus...and suddenly the whole lengthy film gathers more meaning. This is a fine overview of Roman history and civilization and thanks to the fine work by Peter O'Toole and Charlotte Rampling the result is very satisfying. Grady Harp, January 2005
Movie Review: Every Family Has Its Ups and Downs
Summary: 4 Stars
"Augustus" is far better than I had expected it to be. Not as in-depth in covering the life of the once Octavius who became Augustus the first Emperor of Rome as "I Claudius" is. This Italian television mini-series never the less is quite respectable as an entertainment.
The strong points of the production are the wonderfully accurate sets, both interior and exterior. The reconstruction of the Forum is incredibly accurate if a little too small in some of its scale. The interiors of the house of Augustus is both stunning in the details of the wall paintings and furnishing and appropriately small and cramped as are the remains of "Liva's House" on the Palatine in Rome. The art directors do a wonderful job in creating the feel of the late republic and the early empire of the Pax Romana.
Peter O'Toole is simply brilliant in his role of the old Augustus and dominates the screen with all the power and vigor that he did over forty years ago in "Laurence of Arabia". He is mesmerizing.
Charlotte Rampling is cool and calculating as Livia, wife to Augustus. Still a beautiful actress she stands toe to toe with O'Toole and holds her own.
Canadian born actor Benjamin Sadler is a vibrant talent who rounds out the role of the young Augusts. He is a fine young actor, who has mostly worked in Europe, deservers to be noticed by American audiences in the future.
Victoria Belvedere is a stunningly beautiful if somewhat innocent Julia. She is reminiscent of Michelle Pfeiffer and just as arresting. Italian actor, Massimo Ghini is impressive in the role of Mark Antony. Finally someone understands the mixture of brawn and brains that was Antony.
The only disappointment I have with the film is the shoddy and cheap first battle sequence. But one must understand how difficult such recreations are and how this challenge cannot always be met on limited budget of television over the movies.
"Augustus" is not the whole story but a good part of it is represented and well worth the time it takes to watch. And it is fun as well, proving that drama and soap have been making loads of suds for thousands of years and that every family has it's ups and downs
Movie Review: A must see for any enthusiast of Roman History
Summary: 4 Stars
A wonderful and expansive recounting of the life and times of Rome's first emperor, Augustus Caesar. A conversation between Augustus and his daughter Julia provides the narration that covers the early years of his life through to his death.
The story begins with us finding Augustus, after many years on the throne, walking among the enthusiastic crowd in the Roman Forum. Their reaction seems authentically happy to be close to a popular leader who is now in the latter years of a long and successful career. From here we travel back with Augustus to Spain, Egypt, Greece, and of course Rome and spend time with Julius Caesar, Marc Antony, Cleopatra, Marcus Agrippa, and his wife Livia. All these characters are given depth and you truly get a view into why they may have done the things they did.
The settings are generally good and the reproduction of the Forum, while not perfect, is among the best I've seen.
My only significant criticism is the unevenness of how some of the dialog is presented. It seems that many of the actors were not speaking English and their voices overdubbed in English. This sometimes breaks the flow of the dialog and makes it appear unnatural. Hence I believe it rates a 4 star rating rather than 5. Other than that, the acting is very good, especially that of Peter O'Tool who delivers a very convincing elder Augustus. Some critics have cited flaws in the history it portrays, especially around the character of Julia. True or not, this in no significant way takes away from the production.
It's tempting to compare this to the BBC's landmark production of "I Claudius" or the Hollywood production of "Cleopatra". Overall "I Claudius" is a better production but is sometimes too myopic; one gets the feeling from "I Claudius" that the emperors never ventured outside a few rooms in their palace. Compared to "Cleopatra", this production provides less Hollywood-type settings and more depth to the characters.
A must see for any enthusiast of Roman History or anyone who has a child who does not always follow your wishes.
Movie Review: Blood-Honor-Victory!
Summary: 4 Stars
Augustus, brings to the screen the rise to power of one of the most well known historical figures. It is a rather long movie, but that is to be expected considering who the movie is about. Overall, the acting is above average, with the highlights being of course Peter O'Toole's portrayal of Octavius.
The siege of Sextus' army in Hispania and the subsequent battle were also very good as was the portrayal of the city of Rome.
On the negative side, the film is rather biased against Marc Anthony, providing for a very different approach from that of Cleopatra with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, where the movie is presented from Marc Anthony's view, as is the modern version of Cleopatra starring Timothy Dalton and Billy Zane.
Moreover, was there something "wrong" with young Octavius' and young Agrippa's friend Maecenas or was it just me??? Russell Barr was, therefore, a very poor choice for that role to say the least!
Aside from that, the setting, the dialogues and the costumes are all wonderful!
In a nutshell, though not a masterpiece, Augustus will surely provide for an evening's entertainment. It is a movie definitely worth watching, especially for those with a soft spot for History and all things Roman. 3½ Stars