Ben Hur

Saw Ben Hur, the biblical epic with the chariot race. I only really knew it for the chariot race and the galley slave scenes ("ramming speed!") but it's much more bible-y than that. Ben Hur is a jewish prince under the thumb of the Romans. The local branch that has displaced him specifically is headed by an old childhood friend who has become evil and possibly gay. This friend betrays his trust in a political move that winds up with Ben having various adventures in the galley and racing chariots all to the backdrop of Jesus's more famous adventures.

Throughout most of the film Ben is consumed and driven by hatred for his friend. Various characters observe that "his hatred has kept him alive." Although he wound up in this situation by sticking to his principals, this alone brings him no peace. The film seems to be examining this line between uncompromisingly enforcing one's own values and giving way to events, accepting them as they cone (or, if you prefer, giving way to the will of God.) On the one hand, his eventual recovery to his former glory brings him no happiness but on the other, without his "hatred" he would presumably have died in the galley. The film seems to want us to root for acceptance and passivity (I guess, on account of Jesus) but I think it's a bit more equivocal than that, letting us untie the knot ourselves.

Anyway, the film clearly cost gobs of money to create. There's crowd scenes that look like they used thousands of extras. The chariot race alone looks like it takes place in a football stadium and that's only one scene. I thought the performances were a tad overwrought, with Charlton Heston grimacing and contorting his body like something out of the silent era. The whole thing is faintly ridiculous but this is a Classic and a Biblical Epic so no laughter allowed please. The film is grand and weighty, I just wish it weren't helmed by Heston's grimacing jaws. Also the portrayal of the Romans comes off as a bit gay to me. Allegedly the old friend was portrayed like an ex-lover and before the chariot race, we have a scene where the gauntlet is thrown down to the Romans. This occurs in a bath house where muscley dudes are being oiled up and rubbed down. I think this is not done for representational reasons and is just sort of subtly done to make audiances feel grossed out and I don't like that at all. It was a good movie though.