"Ben-Hur" (2016) Review

Title: Ben-Hur

Directed by: Timur Bekmambetov

Written by: John Ridley and Keith R. Clarke

Year: 2016


As soon as this movie was announced, many dismissed the idea without second thought. "A remake of the 1959 classic? Hell no!" But what most people are not aware of is that the 1959 Ben-Hur is also a remake. The original was a silent film from 1925, which is a remake of the 15 minute 1907 movie. However, that is not to discredit the 1959 film, because it truly is magnificent and deserved its record number of Oscars. My point is simply because this is a remake does not automatically make it bad. Can this latest retelling offer any improvements to its predecessor, or does it lack the horsepower?

Prince Judah Ben-Hur is mistakenly convicted of treason against the Romans and forced into slavery by his adopted brother Messala, who leads the Roman forces. Without title nor friends, Ben-Hur struggles to exact revenge on those that wronged him.

Charlton Heston's portrayal of the titular character back in 1959 is an incredibly tough act to follow. Jack Huston never manages to match or surpass Heston, but he does offer a very good performance in its own right. Huston captures the sheer determination the character requires and he hits the emotional beat changes well. Toby Kebbell is surprisingly one-note as Messala. He always remains within the same spectrum of emotions and hardly reaches the level of complexity his character deserves. This makes the interactions between the lead actors very one-sided, with Huston garnering all the attention.

Morgan Freeman is an undeniably great actor. But boy was he terribly miscast in this film. I could look past the ridiculous dreadlocks if he turned-out a good performance, but he seems to be sleepwalking through this picture. Freeman never appears invested in the material and his delivery is far too stale for an actor of his caliber. The remainder of the cast is unworthy of mention due to little and scattered screen time, as well as unimpressive performances.

The story is very similar to that of the previous film's, with little variation or deviation, with the exception of the finale. But I will address that later. Though it is disappointing to see that very little has been changed, Ben-Hur (2016) is still quite entertaining. Lackluster performances aside, the execution of the plot is just interesting enough to make you keep watching. On its own, the story is riveting, and this film manages to bring some of its greatness to fruition.

One aspect of the script that I thought was handled marvelously was the conflict amongst Ben-Hur and Messala. Barring Kebbell's disappointing outing, the relationship between these two is fascinating to watch and its development is helmed with skill. This is arguably the most important feature of the story, and I am glad that this adaption nailed this detail very well.

This remake also provides two spectacular sequences; the battle at sea and the chariot race. The rowing scenes are gripping and well shot. The director makes use of plenty of close-ups to communicate intimacy and claustrophobia, which was a brilliant move. The grit, fear, and cruelty are realized wonderfully and the actual battle is the highlight of the movie. The chariot race is also a standout moment. No, it does not compare with the extended sequence from the 1959 picture, but a lot of effort was clearly put into this action scene. Once again, the camera gets in close so that we feel what the characters on the screen are experiencing. There are several impressive tracking shots and, even if you know the outcome, the sequence is still nail-biting.

Counteracting these moments is poorly delivered dialogue throughout the movie. The lines given to the actors are often clunky and their delivery is equally awkward. Most of the characters sound too uppity, which contradicts their standings. It seems that the writers confuse bumptious with pompous, and that severely detracts from the movie.

But now we get to the real problem with Ben-Hur (2016); the ending. Up until this point, the film is passable and entertaining enough. But the movie derails drastically within its concluding moments. I do not want to spoil it, but it completely ruins the point of the story. The original had a very bittersweet and contemplative conclusion that remained memorable because of how effective it was. But this version, in its only surge of absolute creativity, changes the ending to a more positive note, which is baffling to say the least. This goes against everything the story was building up towards and conforms to modern tradition of leaving the theatre satisfied rather than unsure and moved.

Watching this latest adaptation of the Ben-Hur story is very telling of how much filmmaking has changed over the decades. The Heston version was populated with still wide-shots, blatant shot-reverse-shots, minimal cuts in editing, and theatrical performances. This version heavily emphasizes close-ups, quick editing, and almost every frame is a tracking shot. On its own, Ben-Hur (2016) is just average when not factoring in its ending. The performances are underwhelming, with Huston seeming to be the only committed cast member; the script desperately needed revision; and the ending completely craps on the point of the story. The remake does offer two excellent, thrilling sequences and some great moments, but that is not enough to make up for its mediocrity.

Grade: C