I, Claudius
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Movie Reviews of I, Claudius
Movie Review: Superbly acted and still fresh
Summary: 5 Stars
Robert Graves wrote the book this fine Masterpiece Theater version is adapted upon in 1977, eight years before his death. Graves himself was a survivor- most notably surviving the trenches of World War I as an English Infantry Officer, (which was no small feat considering the typical 80% casualty rates- at the Battle of the Somme he was listed as having died from his wounds). Known best for his poetry, his sparkling translation of "The Twelve Caesars" and his friendship with conscious objector "Mad Jack" Siegfeid Sassoon, Graves was awarded the 1934 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for both "I, Claudius" and for the sequel, "Claudius the God." Fortunately, this small screen adaptation by the BBC is just as good as the book.
So how's this screen adaptation? Scary. Thought provoking. Entertaining. This work brings to life Rome in the first century during the time of Christ. Augustus (Octavian), Tiberius and Claudius Caesar are mentioned by name in the Bible. Each of their lives (and many others) are detailed here- they each come clearly to life, with more than enough time to fully develop each of their characters. Imagine video cameras going "behind the scenes" in ancient Rome, and you'll better understand what's being shown in this adaptation.
While it's a work of pure fiction, it's all based on fact. And in the process, "ancient" Rome comes to life all over again.
This is eleven hours of pure drama and character development. And "Claudius the Idiot", "Claudius the Stammerer", "Poor Uncle Claudius" or "Clau-Clau-Claudius" (as he was known to his contemporaries and family) managed to survive by staying at the edge- until he was drug into the center of things when made Emperor of Rome by the palace guard, completely against his own will.
I have noted that several reviews don't like the quality of the videotape transfer to DVD. Ok, I will give them that. And I will also agree that it has a very studio feel, rather than a more modern natural feel. But I'm much more interested in the acting and the story than the quality of the screen image. I must be showing my age, I guess.
With this work, the early Caesars come to life with all of their strengths and weaknesses. A sparkling performance by all of the major characters only enhances my opinion of the overall package.
So do I endorse this one? Oh, yes! Very much so.
Movie Review: Throw out Gladiator Now
Summary: 5 Stars
The BBC production of "I Claudius" is, beyond a doubt, the best portrayal of Imperial Rome in TV or movie setting. While some may argue that "Gladiator" (2000) gives a good feeling of the decadence resulting from Commodus' reign and the decline of Rome, they blow the characters way out of proportion. The end result is a mockery of Roman History (perhaps "Caligola" being the only film worse) and a carbon copy of a much better peformed "Spartacus." Much of the setting and aura, and dress has nothing to do at all with late Empire. Instead, its script suggest that the writers wrote down everything they remembered from a grade school class. Unlike Gladiator, which is nothing but wholesale lies and inaccurcies to the point where the movie is no longer viewable, "I Claudius" stems from the works of actual primary documents from Ancient Rome. Robert Graves' novels both come directly out of primarily Seutonius, as well as some Tacitus and Cassius (mostly for the story about Livia), and Jack Pullman saw fit only to take creative license when he felt it necessary to facilitate the plot, but preserving the realism.The cast of "I Claudius" puts anything Gladiator and similar films have to shame. The finest out of the Royal Shakespearean Actors and Actresses, give emotional and powerful performances. Brian Blessed makes Augustus a strong Emperor, but a weak husband. Sir Dereck Jacobi, of course, leaves us no doubt as to who the protagonist is, and each inspiring scene he is in, makes Russel Crowe even more overrated. John Hurt absolutely dominates any scene he is in with a psycotic look and the outrageous actions for which Caius Caligula was known for. Patrick Stewart, John Castle, Fiona Walker, and George Baker (making an excellent down-to-earth Tiberius)-all well-known talents, give character and plot depth and create dynamic characters. And as anyone will tell you, Sian Philips should have been deified for her acting here, just as Livia Drusilla was. Her lines are with such conviction, that we get the impression that we are hearing indeed the real thing. And to compliment Livia's power of speech, Philips' facial expressions capture profoundly, the woman who "was bitten by a snake, and then it died."
Even if you don't like history, you cannot help but appreciate quality acting when it is there. After you have seen this, Gladiator will sit on a dusty shelf while you watch this over and over again.
Movie Review: Claudius is no fool
Summary: 5 Stars
This has to be one of the best BBC productions I've ever seen. You will absolutely be blown away by these actors and the quality of the screenplay. I read "I, Claudius" some years ago and admittedly, it didn't form much of an impression on me. This production caught me completely off guard. I can't believe I bought this from a used-seller for $40 and was given such a treat to watch all these master-class Shakespearean actors. Why have I not heard or seen Sian Phillips before this? She's absolutely wonderful. She's such a wicked woman but intensely amusing. You get to see decades of her misdeeds, all in the name of Rome of course, but even I pitied her during her death-bed scene. There's so many brilliant characters, several who are just so wonderfully hateful, especially John Hurt as Caligula. I read somewhere that most of what we know about Caligula is rumor, that his actual recorded history is unfortunately lost. There's some concurrance though, that he was either mentally ill or suffered from epilepsy. This production however, doesn't give him an ounce pity. He's depicted as as vile and grotesque, a "monster," even as a young boy. I couldn't stop watching him or feeling afraid for any other person he came in contact with. No one was safe or able to speak out against him. John Hurt was I think only 36 at the time of this production, but he made the wisest choices as an actor. At the center of this family firestorm of murder, intrigue, and debauchery is our little Claudius. It's amazing to watch him survive through one clamity after another with barely the perception of his idiocy keeping him alive. I was a bit conflicted as to how I felt about him, though. On one hand I felt pity for him and his afflictions, and how he was mistreated by practically all his family. He was charming, loyal, and intelligent but unfortunately, too trusting. On the other hand, he barely had a back-bone. It's in his nature not to make trouble and he tries not to get involved, but sometimes that choice makes him gutless esepcially when innocent people need help. Even with some production, visual and sound problems with this DVD, I would still give this series higher than 5 stars if I could. I count myself very fortunate to have seen this. It's given me enthusiasm to buy other films and books centered around Imperial Rome. This DVD series is an absolute treasure, you wont be disappointed.Movie Review: So THAT'S what Paul was raving about!
Summary: 5 Stars
Back in the 1970s, I stumbled onto "I, Claudius" halfway through, at the point when Piso's wife betrays and kills him. Even that second-string treachery was so "cold" that, like so many of the reviewers who have written here, I was hooked.A couple of connections I haven't seen mentioned here yet:
I wonder how many "I, Claudis" fans were reminded by it of Paul's letter to the Romans. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men," Paul says in the first chapter, and he launches into a tirade that's jaw-dropping in its intensity: "Claiming to be wise, they became fools ... They were filled with all manner of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless." Paul goes on to show us we're all capable of such things, but I wonder if many of his original readers didn't take that diatribe as referring to the imperial family.
Secondly, many reviewers here have mentioned how much they liked Brian Blessed in the role of Augustus. They should check out the 1971 epic "The Last Valley," in which Blessed has a small but vivid (and much less lovable) role. That picture lacks the superior acting and great dialogue of "I, Claudius," but it makes up for it with spectacular Tyrolean scenery, and it gives a strong sense of the horror of Germany's Thirty Years War. Blessed has a good supporting role also in "The Last Days of Pompeii," a 1980s miniseries that also starred Lesley-Anne Down, Ned Beatty and Laurence Olivier. Unfortunately, that one's not out on video or DVD yet. Blessed also essays Squire Western, the role Hugh Griffith created in Tony Richardson's 1963 "Tom Jones," in the 1997 A&E miniseries remake. Sad to say, I can't recommend that version. Stick with Griffith, Finney, York, Warner, Greenwood, Bull & Co.
Anyway, yes, like everyone else who's written here, I love "I, Claudius."
Movie Review: More like watching a play than a miniseries
Summary: 5 Stars
I heard about "I, Claudius" from the administrator I worked with when I was an undergrad. She watched an episode every couple of days and raved about it. Of course, back then I was too distracted by women to really comprehend what she was trying to tell me: that I, Claudius is one of the best-acted pieces of cinema history.
I, Claudius is much like HBO's Rome, only with a much lower budget. But what it lacks in scenery and wardrobe, I Claudius makes up for with its acting. The series is long, taking its time to tell history from the very beginning of Claudius' life through his reign as emperor and his death. But it's in the telling that the series excels just about anything Hollywood can put out.
I, Claudius' rich history is drawn from the memories of Claudius, the club-footed, stuttering Roman Emperor. How he came into power is a story unto itself. But it's not Claudius that's the real show. It's everyone else: the insanity of Caligula, the decadence of the Roman nobility, the orgies, the backstabbing, the poisoning-there's enough poison going around to fill an ocean. Through it all, Caligula observes...and survives.
What makes I, Claudius such a fantastic miniseries is the quality of its actors. Sure, you can watch it to see young Patrick Stewart and John Rhys-Davies in their prime, but that's missing the point. It's the actors who make this miniseries so watchable, from the husband/wife bickering of Augustus (Brian Blessed) and Livia (Sian Phillips), the weary bitterness of Tiberius (George Baker), the utter madness of Caligula (John Hurt), or Claudius himself, played with weary patience by Derek Jacobi. This isn't just filmmaking, it's a snapshot in time of when actors actually acted. Sometimes, the camera stays on an actor for up to 20 minutes straight, without a cutaway scene.
If there's a flaw, it's in the DVD itself. The video footage is grainy, the audio is choppy, and more often than not you get the sense that you're watching a play rather than a miniseries. Perhaps that's the highest compliment that can be paid to this miniseries.