Victor Davis Hanson: Culling From Among the Mediocre in Hollywood

VDH Private Papers ^ | November 27, 2004 | Victor Davis Hanson

[quidnunc]

A short review of Oliver Stone's Alexander the Great

Well, I thought it was simply terrible. The film goes on for nearly three hours, but we hear nothing of what either supporters or detractors of Alexander, both ancient and modern, have agreed were the central issues of his life. Did he really believe in a unity of mankind, and were his mass mixed marriages, Persian dress, and kowtowing cynical, sincere, or delusions of megalomania? We see nothing of the siege of Tyre, Gaza, much less Thebes or even the burning of Persepolis. Other than the talking head Ptolemy, none of his generals have much of a character. There is nothing really in detail about the page purging other than a single reference; Stone, I would have thought, could have had a field day with Alexander’s introduction of both crucifixion and decimation.

-snip-

[quidnunc]

Response to Readership

Q: The movie Alexander the Great delves in to Alexander's bi-sexuality perhaps to generate buzz and to push a political agenda. Would you please comment on the historical record here? Would an accusation of homosexuality have been considered calumny in ancient times?

Hanson: Professor Thornton who writes on our pages has a great book, Eros, which explains ancient Greek sexuality quite candidly without theoretical pretensions. In a word, Alexander was probably not that different from either his father or most Macedonian horse lords in their approach to sex: an interest in the feminine, whether that be women or young boys and girlish adults who served as female surrogates. The key would have been insistence of the male role in all such encounters—and eventual marriage with children. …

-snip-

(Victor Davis Hanson in VDH Private Papers, November 27, 2004)
http://victorhanson.com/articles/Private%20Papers/Question%20Log/November.html

[quidnunc]

FYI

[Paul Atreides]

There is also irony here. If we remember the embarrassing Troy, we are beginning to see, that all for all the protestations of artistic excellence and craftsmanship, Hollywood has become mostly a place of mediocrity, talentless actors and writers who spout off about politics in lieu of having any real accomplishment in their own field. I’ve heard so many inane things mouthed by Stone that I would like someone at last to address this question—why would supposedly smart insiders turn over $160 million to someone of such meager talent to make such an embarrassing film? Alexander the Great is third-rate Cecil B. Demille in drag.

Heh heh!!!

[Sam the Sham]

It is hard to make a story about a prodigy boring. Alexander was someone whose extraordinariness was apparent at an early age, someone who struck everyone who encountered him. Notwithstanding the fact that he had a colossal mean streak at times as was shown at Thebes, Tyre, and Persepolis and to trusted comrades like Parmenion and Cleitus.

It's the same problem with "The Alamo" and "Troy". Hollywood does not believe in heroism. It does not believe in extraordinary people. It wants flawed anti-heroes.

[San Jacinto]

Stone’s Alexander is a pouty, wimpy bore;

Much like Stone himself, I suppose.

[George W. Bush]

In a word, Alexander was probably not that different from either his father or most Macedonian horse lords in their approach to sex: an interest in the feminine, whether that be women or young boys and girlish adults who served as female surrogates. The key would have been insistence of the male role in all such encounters—and eventual marriage with children. …

Note the similarity to most Arab and African populations.

They are not essentially modern peoples, the veneer of Westernization runs very thin.

[Paul Atreides]

Another thing about Follywood is that they want to present a story that conforms with their worldview. Combine that with the fact that we don't have actors and actresses today, only "stars." That is why the next Alexander movie will feature that doe-eyed twinkie, Leonardo DiCrappio, as the title role.

[liberallarry]

Alexander's achievements and enduring fame have nothing to do with his sexuality which was consistant with his time...only more so, as is usually the case with men of great power.

[scoastie]

now THAT"S damn funny!

[liberallarry]

why would supposedly smart insiders turn over $160 million to someone of such meager talent

Because his talent is not meager. He's made some great films and is a master of his craft.

Hansen doesn't know what he's talking about. It's he who's letting his political bias cloud his judgement. Making great films is very hard to do. Only a few succeed and none, or almost none, consistantly. Let him try to do it if he wants credibility as a critic.

[Revolting cat!]

Alexander the Great with blowdried hair looking like a country & western singer straight from the Nashville corporate country star assembly line? Why is there even a discussion here? And who sings the soundtrack, Kenny Chesney or Montgomery Gentry?

[Allan]

I gather you must have liked that schlock, Larry.

[Paul Atreides]

Is that a sweatshirt he's wearing?

[Revolting cat!]

Did you hear the great theme song Alexander Ragtime Band? It rocks, $160 million worth of rocking!

[liberallarry]

It wants flawed anti-heroes.

You mean like Maximus in Gladiator, or John Wayne or Humphrey Bogart in any of their movies, or John Travolta in Get Shorty, or Mel Gibson in Payback or most of his movies, etc., etc.

You're another idiot who speaks before he thinks.

[Revolting cat!]

Is that a cellular service relay tower in the background?

[liberallarry]

I gather you must have liked that schlock, Larry.

Nope. Haven't seen it. But I walked out of Troy...Crapola. Actually, I avoid most movies and don't make it throught most that I do try to watch.

[liberallarry]

Did you hear the great theme song Alexander Ragtime Band? It rocks, $160 million worth of rocking!

Haven't seen the movie...but I expect it to be complete crap. You'll have to explain your comment. I'm guessing that the music is bad too?

[WOSG]

rofl, I've seen enough horrible $100 million movies to know that mediocrity hasnt stopped Hollywood from funding directors. IMHO, Stone had one great movie, Platoon, and the rest was mediocre or worse.

[BobS]

You will not get anything out of Hollywood without some sex scene. Fags run everything from writing to those big film-splicing machines in Santa Monica.