Review of The Alamo (2004) by Chris W — 24 Apr 2010
This has a few problems that the 1960 version also had (mainly with uneven pacing), but is still a few hairs better. If I could I'd give it 4.25/5. As far as a letter grade, I'd give it as close to an A- as possible without it actually being an A-.
This is an entertaining, thoughful and quite accurate depiction of the battle at the Alamo. It's still guilty of taking liberties of course, but nonetheless stands as the most accurate portrayal of the battle to date.
The music by Carter Burwell is good, the camera work is not too shabby, and the set and costumes are just fantastic. The best part of the film is the casting, but more specifically, the performances they give.
The highlights are Billy Bob Thornton as Billy Bob Thornton and Dennis Quaid as Sam Houston. Jason Patric is also good as Jim Bowie, and Patrick Wilson is decent as WIlliam Travis, but maybe slightly underwhelming.
I really liked that these characters are presented as more human than in previous depictions. It was also nice to see more of the political side of things, and to get a better look at events from Santa Anna's perspective.
It's unfortunate that this film din't do well at the box office and that most people crap all over it. It's a good movie that is worth seeing, so give it a chance.
This review of The Alamo (2004) was written by Chris W on 24 Apr 2010.
The Alamo has generally received mixed reviews.
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