BEN HUR
US, 2016, 123 minutes, Colour.
Jack Huston, Toby Kebble, Rodrigo Santoro, Nazanin Boniadi, Ayelet Zurer, Pilou Asbaek, Sofia Black- D'Elia, Moises Arias, James Cosmo, Morgan Freeman.
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov.
A production team would have to feel very self-confident in taking on a remake of Ben Hur. The immediate comparison is the 1959 version, directed by William Wyler, starring a rather iconic Charlton Heston (who had already impressed as Moses in The 10 Commandments), winner of 11 Academy Awards, running for over three hours… This version was itself a remake of a 1925 epic, chariot race, Jesus scenes and all but able to be superseded in the 1950s by sound and colour. (For those who subscribe to Foxtel, the TCM channel regularly screens both versions.)
Unfortunately, this version has not found favour with film critics which seems to have had some dire effects on its box office success. A pity because many audiences would enjoy it, not as much as the 1959 version, but many interesting aspects nonetheless.
A major difference is that the daring Russian director, Timur Bekmambetov (action films like Wanted) has opted for a spectacular film. This makes us realise that the aims of the 1959 version were to make an Epic. if so, this version is spectacular but not epic.
For a Christian audience, the 1959 version kept the subtitle from General Lew Wallace’s novel, “A Tale of the Christ”. This film omits that subtitle. Nevertheless, there are a few more sequences with Jesus in this version than in the previous film, some original version, the two water scenes a variation on what appeared in 1959. That version had the advantage – or disadvantage – of the times, permitting the audience to see only Jesus’ arm, Jesus’ hand giving the water, or Jesus filmed from behind staring at the Centurion. This time, a recognisable actor appears as Jesus who also speaks. He is played by Brazilian actor, Rodrigo Santoro. He is a strong presence, tall, seen working as a carpenter, but not as intrinsically empathetic as one might like, rather stern and serious.
Jesus is first seen in Jerusalem, working as a carpenter, speaking about love and forgiveness to Ben Hur and Esther.He makes an impact on Esther who becomes a disciple.He is also seen rescuing a man who is being stoned, covering the man with his body and being pelted with stones himself. There is an arrest in the garden of Gethsemane with Peter wielding his sword. in the 1959 version, Jesus gives water to Ben Hur during his march through Nazareth with Ben Hur reciprocating during the Way of the Cross, recognising Jesus as he did so. This time, the action is in Jerusalem, Ben Hur arrested, being marched through the streets with a wooden yolk on his neck, falling and Jesus, defying the soldiers, giving him water. When Jesus is making his way to Calvary, the cross on his back, Ben Hur recognises him and gives him the water. There is also a crucifixion scene with Jesus speaking out his forgiveness, followed by rain, Ben Hur kneeling and praying, his mother and sister healed of their leprosy this moment.
But, of course, the popular audience has gone to see the action spectacle, opening with a glimpse of the final chariot race and the antagonism between Judah Ben Hur and Massala, his adopted brother, and flashbacks to their riding through the desert, Judah having an accident, thrown from his horse, and Massala carrying him home. Actually, the scenes in Jerusalem itself quite interesting, establishing the family as well has the activities of the zealots. Massala, attracted to Judah’s sister but disliked by her mother, goes off to war in Germany and, in Persia, encountering Pontius Pilate who then is his patron when he returns to Jerusalem.
The incident which leads to Judah’s imprisonment and the capture of his mother and sister is not the dropping of a stone accidentally but a separate firing an arrow at Pontius Pilate.
The galley scenes are quite powerful, the slavery for five years, as well as the naval battles and the ramming of the ship, Judah getting loose, surviving on planks and washed ashore.
Those expecting the story of the Roman commander, Arius, will be disappointed as he is omitted as is Judah’s time in Rome. He is immediately rescued by the African horse and chariot dealer, Ilderim (Morgan Freeman and his powerful voice – though some of the dialogue has the touch of lameness and Freeman himself says twice okay, okay.)
This means that Ilderim and Judah go straight to Jerusalem, with a build up to the chariot race – which, is on a par with the previous versions, 10 minutes of visual excitement.
There is more than a touch of unexpected sentiment at the end – hope rather than grimness or despair.
Apart from Morgan Freeman, the cast is not well-known and Jack Huston does not try to vie with Charlton Heston but makes a sufficiently strong screen presence for this version as does Toby Kebbel as Massala.
Older audiences may still pine for Charlton Heston although the film has been readily available for all for over 50 years. Younger audiences may not have this particular background and be interested in this version for itself.
1. The popularity of the 1959 classic film? Other versions? The significance of the novel? The Roman Empire, Judaea, a Tale of the Christ?
2. The impact of the version of the 20s, its continued availability? 1959, the epic status, the Oscars? The animated versions?
3. The issue of a remake, older audiences and their memories and comparisons, new audiences and their awareness of 1959 or not?
4. The Russian director, his action films, the emphasis on spectacle? His treatment of the Christ story and incorporation into the action?
5. The locations, Italian location photography, Palestine, Jerusalem, the desert and countryside? The sea and the galleys? Rome, slave and free? The training for the chariot races, the coast and the horses, the African caravan? The chariot race? The musical score?
6. A tale of the Christ, Rodrigo Santoro as Jesus? The scene of the carpentry, his words about forgiveness, his being stoned and saving the man being stoned, giving Ben Hur the water, the reversal and Ben Hur giving him the water? The arrest? The crucifixion and his forgiveness?
7. The cast, the central character’s not being well known name figures?
8. The stunts, the special effects, the galleys, the sea battles, the chariot race?
9. The introduction to the tale, Ben Hur and Massala riding, the horses? The family, patrician, Ben Hur and Massala as brothers, his being a Roman? Contrast with the Jewish household? The statue and praying to his gods? Massala and his love for Thirsa? Esther and her father, servants in the house, the celebrations?
10. The opening, the riding, the chariot race, talk of death? The flashbacks, Judah hurt in the accident, falling from his horse, Massala carrying him home? The mother and her dislike of Massala, protective of Thirsa? His leaving, going to the military, Judah his reaction, the fighting scenes in Germany, in Persia, the encounter with Pontius Pilate?
11. Massala returning to Jerusalem, the friendship of Pontius Pilate? The commander, his hostility to Massala? His position, reuniting with the family? His urging Judah to expose the zealots?
12. Dismas, the zealots, Thirsa shielding them, Judah healing him, his hiding – but his firing the arrow at Pontius Pilate?
13. Pontius Pilate, the entry, the arrow, going into the house, killing the servant, tying the family up, Judah confessing to save his family, holding the centurion with the knife (and this man later leading Judah to his mother and sister), his being condemned, Massala and his stance?
14. The insertion of the Jesus story, carpentry, forgiveness, the water, stopping the stoning, the arrest, Peter and his sword in Gethsemane, the way of the cross and Ben Hur and the water, on the cross, forgiveness, the rain? Judah praying and the healing of his family?
15. Judah condemned to the galley, the vivid scenes of the slaves, rowing, chained, five years, the battles, the ramming of the ship, Judah and his escape, in the water, floating, on land?
16. Ilderim, saving Judah, his African background, caravans, his wealth, appearance, Ilderim and his manner and speech? Judah and the horse, healing it, the nature of the cure? His training the horses, the horses bolting with the charioteer? Ilderim and his support? The decision to go to Jerusalem?
17. The return, visiting Esther, her warning about Massala, the decision to confront him? His being taken to his mother and sister? The riding, the training, the various hints for strategies during the chariot race?
18. Ilderim going to Pontius Pilate, the discussion, the bet?
19. The chariot race, the various competitors, the race. The special effects, editing? The destruction of chariots, the deaths of the riders, the horses? Judah holding back, Massala and his arrogance, whipping? His crash and being injured? Judah falling off the chariot, being dragged, winning? The reaction of the crowd, supporting him? The stance of Pontius Pilate?
20. The mother and daughter healed, Judah and Massala, Massala and his injuries, the reconciliation, brothers? The riding together – and Ilderim urging them to their life ahead?
