(1999) Directed by Julie Taymore, Starring Anthony Hopkins, Alan Cumming, Angus Macfayden Jessica Lange and Harry Lenix.
Titus Andronicus(Hopkins) returns from a successful campaign against the Goths. He has lost 21 of his 25 sons in battle and wearily marches his army back to Rome. In tow, he brings Tamora(Lange) –queen of the Goths and her three sons. Andronicus – being a devout believer in the Gods and all things Roman is compelled by his own conscience to sacrifice Tamora’s eldest son. This he does despite Tamoras pleas for mercy.
This event sets the scene for all that follows.
Soon after Titus’ return to Rome, the emperor dies. Titus refuses the crown and entreats the senate to put Saturnine (Cumming) on the throne – which they do. Saturnine then claims Andronicus’ daughter Lavinia for his own – but she is in love with Bassianus. With the help of her brothers, Lavinia escapes with Bassianus – much to the fury of old Andronicus who kills one of his own sons and accuses them of treason.
"I'll find a day to massacre them all" Tamora
Saturnine then decides to take Tamora as his queen and this gives her the chance she needs to wreak her revenge. Aaron(Lenix) and her two sons soon begin to hatch plots to bring about the complete destruction of Andronicus and his family. Lavinia is raped and mutilated by Tamora’s sons. Her tongue is cut out and her hands sliced off. Another two of Andronicus sons are wrongfully blamed for the murder of Bassianus and imprisoned.
Aaron (acting as a friend) tells Andronicus that if he cuts off his own hand, Saturnine will return his sons. This he does but only receives the heads of his children. Lucius is banished and sets about raising an army to march on Rome. Meanwhile, plots grow thicker and blood and murder are the order of the day as Titus slowly slips into madness. Inexorably, the story moves towards its very brutal conclusion.
The film is simply stunning. Set in present day Rome, it is a mix of ancient and modern. Romans enter the ruined arena on motorbikes. Mud caked, the army moves almost robotically and their uniforms have a look of modern functionality that gives the impression of giant toy soldiers come to life. The mix of different time periods gives it a feel almost of a fantasy film but the level of violence present is staggering – it is the George Romero of Shakespeare’s plays. The plot seems complicated but is quite easy to follow so that a great prior knowledge of this play is not really required here to enjoy it.
Along with the many sumptuous shots, the acting from all bar none is absolutely first class. The atmosphere between Hopkins and Lange is wonderfully electric and Cumming is a fabulously camp, sociopathic Saturnine.
Musically it is absolutely awesome with a fine orchestral and choral score by Elliot Goldenthal. Interspersing this are some moments of Jazz and Swing – mirroring the decadence in this Rome which straddles two different eras.
Costume wise, there is a definite fascist tone about the place and even the building used to house the senate is a large structure built by Il Duce in the 30s.
"Oft have I digged up dead men from their graves,
And set them upright at their dear friends' door,
Even when their sorrows almost was forgot,
And on their skins, as on the bark of trees,
Have with my knife carved in Roman letters-
Let not your sorrow die though I am dead."Aaron
Aaron is right up there with the best villains in literary history – perhaps only Iago is more cunning but none are as embittered as this character. Hannibal Lector? Don’t make me laugh! He’s a pussycat compared with this guy.
Within this film you will also find references to both Silence Of The Lambs and The Matrix which (believe it or not) sit quite comfortably within this framework.
This is one of Shakespeare’s least known and least performed plays. It should come as no surprise to discover that it did not do particularly well at the box office. The only place available (apart from rental) is by importing a Region 1 copy from the USA.
In conclusion – if you like Shakespeare, if you like blood & Guts, intrigue, madness, revenge, murder…..any or all of the above then you simply must see this wonderful film.
If it were to be given marks out of ten then it’s a 9.5.
Titus Andronicus(Hopkins) returns from a successful campaign against the Goths. He has lost 21 of his 25 sons in battle and wearily marches his army back to Rome. In tow, he brings Tamora(Lange) –queen of the Goths and her three sons. Andronicus – being a devout believer in the Gods and all things Roman is compelled by his own conscience to sacrifice Tamora’s eldest son. This he does despite Tamoras pleas for mercy.
This event sets the scene for all that follows.
Soon after Titus’ return to Rome, the emperor dies. Titus refuses the crown and entreats the senate to put Saturnine (Cumming) on the throne – which they do. Saturnine then claims Andronicus’ daughter Lavinia for his own – but she is in love with Bassianus. With the help of her brothers, Lavinia escapes with Bassianus – much to the fury of old Andronicus who kills one of his own sons and accuses them of treason.
"I'll find a day to massacre them all" Tamora
Saturnine then decides to take Tamora as his queen and this gives her the chance she needs to wreak her revenge. Aaron(Lenix) and her two sons soon begin to hatch plots to bring about the complete destruction of Andronicus and his family. Lavinia is raped and mutilated by Tamora’s sons. Her tongue is cut out and her hands sliced off. Another two of Andronicus sons are wrongfully blamed for the murder of Bassianus and imprisoned.
Aaron (acting as a friend) tells Andronicus that if he cuts off his own hand, Saturnine will return his sons. This he does but only receives the heads of his children. Lucius is banished and sets about raising an army to march on Rome. Meanwhile, plots grow thicker and blood and murder are the order of the day as Titus slowly slips into madness. Inexorably, the story moves towards its very brutal conclusion.
The film is simply stunning. Set in present day Rome, it is a mix of ancient and modern. Romans enter the ruined arena on motorbikes. Mud caked, the army moves almost robotically and their uniforms have a look of modern functionality that gives the impression of giant toy soldiers come to life. The mix of different time periods gives it a feel almost of a fantasy film but the level of violence present is staggering – it is the George Romero of Shakespeare’s plays. The plot seems complicated but is quite easy to follow so that a great prior knowledge of this play is not really required here to enjoy it.
Along with the many sumptuous shots, the acting from all bar none is absolutely first class. The atmosphere between Hopkins and Lange is wonderfully electric and Cumming is a fabulously camp, sociopathic Saturnine.
Musically it is absolutely awesome with a fine orchestral and choral score by Elliot Goldenthal. Interspersing this are some moments of Jazz and Swing – mirroring the decadence in this Rome which straddles two different eras.
Costume wise, there is a definite fascist tone about the place and even the building used to house the senate is a large structure built by Il Duce in the 30s.
"Oft have I digged up dead men from their graves,
And set them upright at their dear friends' door,
Even when their sorrows almost was forgot,
And on their skins, as on the bark of trees,
Have with my knife carved in Roman letters-
Let not your sorrow die though I am dead."Aaron
Aaron is right up there with the best villains in literary history – perhaps only Iago is more cunning but none are as embittered as this character. Hannibal Lector? Don’t make me laugh! He’s a pussycat compared with this guy.
Within this film you will also find references to both Silence Of The Lambs and The Matrix which (believe it or not) sit quite comfortably within this framework.
This is one of Shakespeare’s least known and least performed plays. It should come as no surprise to discover that it did not do particularly well at the box office. The only place available (apart from rental) is by importing a Region 1 copy from the USA.
In conclusion – if you like Shakespeare, if you like blood & Guts, intrigue, madness, revenge, murder…..any or all of the above then you simply must see this wonderful film.
If it were to be given marks out of ten then it’s a 9.5.
