Alexander

It's anybody's guess what Oliver Stone was thinking here, making a film about Alexander the Great that skips over nearly every historical event that earned the boy wonder that moniker. In any case, Alexander is a surface-skimming soap opera bloated with professorial exposition and starring Colin Farrell (inexplicably bleached blonde and blow-dried pouf-y), who has little to work with since the shaping of his character as a man, warrior, and leader happens largely off-screen. In fact, the bulk of the story takes place after Alexander has annexed half the known world and is pushing deep into Asia. Two gripping battles and one laughably animalistic sex scene (with Rosario Dawson as Alexander's first wife, Roxane) provide some vigor, but fail to drag the movie out of its blah-blah-blahs as characters drone on about victories Stone doesn't bother to show. The film also skirts vaguely around a homosexual affair between Alexander and a childhood friend, and Stone pays lip service to Alexander's later descent into debauchery, only to springboard into a JFK-like conspiracy theory about his death. Granted, Val Kilmer and Angelina Jolie are small saving graces as Alexander's parents (he's quite powerful, she recognizes the film's unintended camp value). But as either history or entertainment, Alexander is pure bunk. Not recommended. [Note: Available in a double-disc widescreen director's cut, single-disc full screen director's cut, or a double-disc widescreen regular edition, DVD extras include audio commentary by director Oliver Stone, three behind-the-scenes featurettes--“Resurrecting Alexander,” “Perfect Is the Enemy of Good,” and “The Death of Alexander”--featuring Oliver's 20-year-old son Sean (87 min. total), a “Vangelis Scores Alexander” featurette about the music of the film, DVD-ROM features, and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a disappointing film.] (R. Blackwelder)[DVD Review—Mar. 6, 2007—Warner, 2 discs, 214 min., not rated, $24.98—Making its third appearance on DVD, 2004's Alexander Revisited (The Final Cut: Two-Disc Special Edition) fills in some narrative holes, running 40 minutes longer than the theatrical version, although the lone DVD extra is an introduction by filmmaker Oliver Stone. Bottom line: long or short, Alexander is not Stone's best, but completists will want to pick up.]