Review of Ben-Hur (1959) by Simeon D — 01 Apr 2011

Uneven and overblown. All of it. Except that one chariot scene-- which even by today's standards stands as one of the all time most suspenseful movie sequences (next to the mexican standoff in TGTBTU and the dustcropper scene in North by Northwest)-- and the performances of Jack Hawkin, Hugh Griffith (who ignites a generally insignificant acting role), and Frank Thring. Otherwise: mostly forgettable Hollywood period piece fluff. It's really a remarkable thing to see a movie's entire greatness rely heavily on one scene.

Should This Have Won Best Picture: Because of its scope, sure why not, but Ben-Hur's technical triumphs and critical reputation are entirely dominated by that one chariot scene-- which is what distinguishes it from being a great film, a timeless film, and a film that truly deserves the Best Picture Oscar. 82/100.