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Augustus (2003)
Reviewer: Charity Bishop
I've been forced to do a lot of historical reading
over the last few months as I've authored a novel
set in Ancient Rome. The emperor preceding Tiberius,
who was the commander of Rome during Jesus'
lifetime, was Augustus. This miniseries is far from
historically accurate, but is a fascinating
retelling of the myths and facts surrounding some of
history's most interesting characters.
There is discourse in Rome and many fear for the
life of their emperor, Augustus (Peter O'Toole). In
the midst of a crowd in the Forum, Augustus is
struck by an assassin. Surviving because of a lead
breastplate, he awakens the next morning nostalgic
about his younger years as the nephew of the great
Julius Caesar. Determined to live up to his uncle's
expectations, Augustus (then called Octavius)
journeys to the front on his deathbed. He is
dangerously ill and his sister Octavia (Elena
Ballesteros) pleads with him not to go. Together
with his dear friend Agrippa (Ken Duken), he
succeeds in aiding Caesar's forces to victory. They
return to a Rome eager to crown Julius emperor, to
the dissatisfaction of the power-hungry senate.
Along the way, Augustus has gathered the support of
the foppish but brilliant-minded Maecenas (Russell
Barr), who aspires to have them all become powerful
in Rome.
In the wake of Julius Caesar's assassination by the senate, Augustus reluctantly
befriends Caesar's novice and strongest supporter, Marc Anthony (Massimo Ghini)
in order to hunt down and destroy all those who were involved in his uncle's
death. In the meantime, the people of Rome are starving. They are fighting wars
on numerous fronts, and there is discourse in Egypt. While Mark attempts to
soothe Egyptian rivalries, he finds greater pleasure in the bed of Queen
Cleopatra (Anne Valle), leaving Augustus to command Rome. While reliving this
story, Augustus attempts to persuade his dutiful daughter Julia (Vittoria
Belvedere) into a political marriage with Tiberius (Michele Bevilacqua),
would-be successor to Rome. The son of his scheming wife Livia (Charlotte
Rampling), Augustus knows that the only protection that can be found for Julia's
sons would be in the implication that their stepfather will become emperor with
his death. But Julia is in love with the son of Marc Anthony, Augustus' sworn
enemy.
A three-hour miniseries with an incredible budget,
Augustus
succeeds in being a compelling retelling of one of
the most obscure figures in history, but doesn't
hold up facts-wise when compared to
Julius Caesar. Liberties have been taken for the
sake of dramatic effect, and to smooth out Augustus'
flaws. The film has two things going for it: the
length of time it takes to unfold, and the fact that
parts of the production were either filmed in
another language, or the actors were unaccustomed to
speaking English; often the facial gestures they
make are wide and distracting. That's my only
complaint, because otherwise it's spectacular.
Ancient Rome unfolds before the viewer in all its
equal splendor and misery.
The acting is great and the costume and set design will have
any scholar of the era weeping for joy. There are
numerous battle scenes, but they're not enough to
dissuade female viewers, because there's a lot
in-between of political rivalries, romantic
entanglements, and devious schemes by jealous
in-laws. I found the film
fascinating. It's a very well-done production that
doesn't forget to remind the viewer of one important
thing: that during Augustus' reign there was born in
the land of Judea a child whose name was Jesus.
Sexual Content:
Passionate kissing leads to a man inviting a
woman to his bed. She doesn't accept. Men abuse a
noblewoman and throw her to the ground, but she is
saved by two soldiers. Marc Anthony is shown kissing
and caressing Cleopatra in bed on several occasions,
and makes remarks about finding the world more
pleasurable from a position between her legs.
Augustus encourages his daughter to marry Tiberius,
but says if she can be discreet, she may keep her
lover. Livia and he share romantic innuendo and
banter. Cleopatra wears very little clothing; thong bottoms and ornate tops,
with sheer cloaks over them. Tiberius follows Julia behind a curtain and rapes
her (we hear her screaming). Maecenas kisses Augusts on the lips in friendship
after an argument and is extremely effeminate: obsessed with clothing, fine
wines, and his appearance. He once appears wearing only a loincloth.
Language:
None.
Violence:
Many men are stabbed and killed,
others shot with arrows, dragged from horses, and
mowed down by being ridden through. Blood rarely
spills.
Other:
Some paganism.
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