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Tuesday, 06 July 2004 |
  Titus is not for everyone. In fact, it may not be for most people. Based on Shakespeare’s first and almost universally hated tragedy, Titus Andronicus, it is the movie equivalent of jumping out of an airplane without a parachute. Only a few minutes into the film, and even before the credits are finished rolling, it is obvious Titus is not the standard Hollywood fare. The theater influence of Tony Award winning director Julie Taymor (Frida) directing her first film, is obvious from the initial frame. Taymor chooses to exaggerate an already extreme story in a way that is stunningly enhanced by the set design of Dante Ferretti, the Cinematography of Luciano Tovoli and the bold, wildly varied score by 2002 Academy Award winner Elliot Goldenthal. Titus has simply the most strikingly original and unusual introduction I have probably ever seen, and the rest of the film doesn’t exactly let up.
Titus begins with the title character, General Titus Andronicus (Anthony Hopkins) returning from a successful military campaign in which he has conquered the Goths. He brings back to Rome his 25 sons, 21 of whom were killed in battle, as well as the Goth Queen and her three sons. After declining his election as Emperor, he chooses the eldest son of the late Emperor, played by Alan Cumming, for the position and begins to settle into his post military life however he can manage. Of course, this is Shakespeare, so things soon come unhinged. The new Emperor and his brother fight over the hand of Titus’ daughter Livinia (Laura Fraser) as the Goth Queen Tamora (Jessica Lange, in a surprisingly good performance) calculates her revenge over the ritual slaughter of her eldest son at the behest of Titus. But, that’s only the beginning. Things are going to get worse.
Explaining the story any further is rather pointless. Like most Shakespeare, the meaning is not just in what happens, but experiencing what happens. It is a long, bumpy, revenge filled road with characters so consumed by selfish anger, they are blind to how they destroy everyone and everything in their paths, including themselves.
I have to repeat myself. Titus is a lot to take and not all that easy to follow. More viewers will dislike it than like it, but for those who can handle it, there may be no better film.
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange, Alan Cumming, Colm Feore, James Frain, Osheen Jones.
Director: Julie Taymor
Studio: Fox
Rated: R
Running Time: 165 minutes
Release: 1999
Reviewer: John Rice |
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