|
The Agony and the Ecstasy |
|
|
|
|
1965
Color
2 hours and 18 minutes
Academy Award Nominations
- Art Direction-Set Decoration (Color)
- John DeCuir
Dario Simoni
Jack Martin Smith- Cinematography (Color)
- Leon Shamroy
- Costume Design (Color)
- Vittorio Nino Novarese
- Score - Substantially Original
- Alex North
- Sound
- James Corcoran
Worth the price of a rental for the first twelve minutes alone, this richly textured biopic is most appealing for its visual detail. If at all possible, see it in letterbox so you don't miss a single millimeter of the magnificent artwork.
Charlton Heston shows considerable range as the stubborn, vulnerable Michelangelo, who has never considered himself a painter and is maneuvered into abandoning his sculpture in order to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling. What begins as a chore evolves into an obsession as he pours years of his life into the physically demanding and emotionally exhausting project. His progress is alternately helped and hindered by his patron, Pope Julius II, portrayed effortlessly by Rex Harrison.
While not perfectly accurate, The Agony and the Ecstasy does provide a fairly realistic sense of the atmosphere of Renaissance Italy and the intricacies of papal politics.
It's interesting to note that the dark colors used in the film are inaccurate. The movie was made before restoration revealed Michelangelo's masterpiece to be painted with glowing pastels in a breathtaking symphony of light. For an excellent view of the restored ceiling, visit the collection of photos at the Christus Rex site.
For more about Michelangelo, visit his page at our Who's Who in Medieval History.
Return to Oscar in the Middle Ages
ACADEMY AWARD(S)® and OSCAR(S)® are registered trademarks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The Medieval History site at About.com is neither endorsed by nor affiliated with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The image of God creating Adam by Michelangelo is in the public domain.
More at the Medieval History Site
New posts to the Medieval History forums:
Site
Map
FAQs
Quizzes
Reviews
Daily
Features
More about the Knightly Newsletter
