Review of Spartacus (1960) by Michael S — 05 Jan 2010

This film is, despite its reputation, really, really bad. The good reviews never fail to mention Olivier. The problem is that Olivier is not a good film actor. I don't understand why American critics in particular continue to fawn over him.

Great stage actors do not make good film actors. The characters are one-dimensional, the story needlessly meanders to hit every movie hook circa 1960, the concepts are hopelessly anachronistic, and the historical accuracy is way off.

Almost--not quite, but almost--as bad as Sam Wood's rendition of 'For Whom the Bell Tolls.' The battle orchestrations towards the end are perhaps the only noteworthy scenes--other than the interesting homoerotic paeans and Douglas' seriously awe-inspiring chin-butt.