Ben-Hur - The Oscar Project Part XXXII

The 1950’s closed out with one of the biggest movies ever. “Ben-Hur.” I’ve known about this movie for quite some time but I’ve never seen it. I knew that it had a chariot race and that was about it. But it was a big movie and is still tied for the most Oscar wins with “Titanic” and “Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.” One of these two movies I love and the other I loathe. If you want to find out which, well stay tuned to this blog, I’ll get there eventually.

“Ben-Hur” tells the story of Judah Ben-Hur during the time period of the birth and rise of Jesus. Throughout the film the lives of Judah and Jesus intersect. The film also shows the oppression of the Jewish people from Rome, but does not tell it as one sided as most stories do. Judah interacts with nice Romans and is able to earn a place of high stature in Rome before he returns to his home. The story begins with Judah being sentenced to enslavement while his family is imprisoned. Over time, Judah earns the respect of his master and rises in the ranks of Rome. When he returns home he is told his family has died when they have actually been afflicted with leprosy. He challenges the person responsible to a chariot race and eventually reunites with his family before witnessing the death of Jesus. The story is grand and does not fail to live up to its description as an epic.

Acting in this film is carried by Charlton Heston. He is in almost every scene and as the titular character he should be. So liking this movie comes down to the question, do you like Charlton Heston? I like to think of him as a true classical actor. He has the strong jaw and the fierce stare that you want from a hero figure. He definitely has a presence on screen. But from an acting standpoint I never feel like he brings a lot of emotion and depth to the part. He is fantastic but compared to the complex acting of today he falls a little short. From a directing standpoint the movie shines. William Wyler was able to shoot a film that would fit in with the epics of today. The chariot race itself is a fantastic scene to watch and feels gritty and realistic. The film definitely captures the feeling of being away in another time.

Overall the film could be made again today, but I think Heston as the lead would bring the film down. We would need someone with a little more depth. Still the movie is a good watch and deserves its reputation. It gets 4 out of 5 stars.