Review of Ben-Hur (2016) by Luke A — 16 Mar 2017

"The new 2016 edition of "Ben-Hur" comes down as nothing but a cash cow for the right-wing faith-based crowd".

DVD Movie Review: Ben-Hur (2016).

Date Viewed: December 17 2016.

Directed By Timur Bekmambetov (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Wanted).

Screenplay By Keith Clarke and John Ridley, Based on the 1880 novel "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ" by Lew Wallace.

Starring: Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, Morgan Freeman, Nazanin Boniadi, Rodrigo Santoro, Sofia Black D'Elia, Ayelet Zurer, Moises Arias, Haluk Bilginer, Pilou Asbaek, Marwan Kenzari and James Cosmo.

How many times do we have to see "Ben-Hur" over and over again before we all go religiously nuts? The new 2016 remake is the fifth adaptation of Lew Wallace's acclaimed 1880 novel, there were the silent film versions from 1907 and 1925, the Oscar-winning William Wyler epic from 1959 and there was even a 2003 animated version of the classic tale. Was there any reason to re-tell this story again? No! The infamous 1959 classic which starred Charlton Heston may have been really, really, really long but it was perfect as it is. The new big-budget version of "Ben-Hur" which bombed spectacularly at the box office was only here just to cash in on the right-wing faith-based crowd.

How is that so? Jesus (played by Rodrigo Santoro) has a more prominent role here than he had in the 1959 version and the new "Ben-Hur" was executive-produced by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey. The visual effects are impressive and the famous chariot race is well-staged but it also features wooden acting, weak storytelling and Morgan Freeman's wacky hairdo. There are no guilty pleasures or even a sort of homosexual thing between brother and brother here, it's just a plain old retelling of a classic story that has nothing new to offer for the faith-based crowd except for a lot of praying and preaching.

The story centers around a noble Jewish prince named Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston) and his adoptive Roman brother Messala (Toby Kebbell). Despite their different points of view, the two have always been loyal and kind to one another but Messala begins to grow jealous for his family's fondness for Judah and his wealthy power. As an act of revenge, Messala joins the Roman army and they barge right into Judah's home where they accuse him of treason. Judah is forced into slavery and his mother (Ayelet Zurer) and sister (Sofia Black D'Elia) are sentenced to be crucified.

After serving as a galley slave for five years, Judah manages to escape during a naval battle against Greek rebels. He soon washes ashore and gets found by an African sheik named Ilderim (Morgan Freeman). Sheik Ilderim sells horses for a living to men who want to compete in chariot races and Judah Ben-Hur no question wants to compete in the race because his now powerful adoptive brother took away everything from him and now he wants revenge. Sure, Judah Ben-Hur is thinking about revenge now but when Jesus comes in do to some healing where in for more faith-based preaching. Oh yeah, Judah Ben-Hur also has a love interest and she's a Jewish slave named Esther (Nazanin Boniadi). Their relationship couldn't be more bland and sucky and the fierce rivalry between Judah and Messala is just a magnet for staging big action sequences.

"Ben-Hur (2016)" was directed by Timur Bekmambetov who made the bloody action thriller "Wanted" and "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" which I liked more than other people did. The production design and the costumes are all there but the screenplay by Keith Clarke and John Ridley (12 Years a Slave) barely has any biblical value in it and the movie doesn't even try to find a new identity for itself.

Jack Huston who is the nephew of actress Anjelica Huston and the grandson of acclaimed American director John Huston has a real screen presence and is capable of doing real work but in this movie, he's just as stiff and washed up as Robert Pattinson from the "Twilight" movies. Lew Wallace's ancient tale will always be an embodied treasure and the 1959 William Wyler classic which won 11 Oscars will always be looked at as a grand cheesy masterpiece. The new "Ben-Hur" on the other hand will be looked at as a surreal.

Miscalculation.