Movie Review: The Agony and the Ecstasy
I just finished watching The Agony and the Ecstasy, and wanted to talk about it! This is an old movie from 1965 about Michelangelo and the painting of the Sistine Chapel, based on the book by Irving Stone. Michelangelo is forced into undertaking a mammoth commision that he doesn't want from Pope Julius II He ends up creating one of the most sublime works of art ever made.
The highlight of this movie is its amazing visuals. Every scene is sumptuous with colour and detail. From the assembled cardinals, to armies at war, and the tavern that Michelangelo visits, every scene is full of life and detail. This is, of course, to say nothing of the art that is the true star of the movie. There is also a wonderful look at what life was like at the time. The costuming and scenery are incredible, and the movie also shows a lot of how art was made - in particular, the stonecutters' quarry and the methods for painting frescos. The central relatonship triangle is also very compelling, since it is a very, very different one: the relationship between Michelangelo, Pope Julius, and the unseen but ever-present God.
On the downside, this a long movie, in which nothing really happens. While it never dragged for me, I did feel that you could probably watch it muted and not miss out on much. The plot is very simplistic, consisting of the characters taking turns to declare that Michelangelo will not paint the ceiling. The (over) acting is also quite dated. And the attempt at a romantic subplot between Michelangelo and Contessina de' Medici fell entirely flat for me. Possibly it was an attempt to cover up the artist's homosexuality, which was still hilariously alluded to in one scene.
Overall, I found this movie wonderful. It was a great portrait of how art is created, on the most epic of scales. It's inspirational for anyone playing a bard, or anyone who wants more of a glimpse behind the scenes of one of the most amazing works of art ever made.
The highlight of this movie is its amazing visuals. Every scene is sumptuous with colour and detail. From the assembled cardinals, to armies at war, and the tavern that Michelangelo visits, every scene is full of life and detail. This is, of course, to say nothing of the art that is the true star of the movie. There is also a wonderful look at what life was like at the time. The costuming and scenery are incredible, and the movie also shows a lot of how art was made - in particular, the stonecutters' quarry and the methods for painting frescos. The central relatonship triangle is also very compelling, since it is a very, very different one: the relationship between Michelangelo, Pope Julius, and the unseen but ever-present God.
On the downside, this a long movie, in which nothing really happens. While it never dragged for me, I did feel that you could probably watch it muted and not miss out on much. The plot is very simplistic, consisting of the characters taking turns to declare that Michelangelo will not paint the ceiling. The (over) acting is also quite dated. And the attempt at a romantic subplot between Michelangelo and Contessina de' Medici fell entirely flat for me. Possibly it was an attempt to cover up the artist's homosexuality, which was still hilariously alluded to in one scene.
Overall, I found this movie wonderful. It was a great portrait of how art is created, on the most epic of scales. It's inspirational for anyone playing a bard, or anyone who wants more of a glimpse behind the scenes of one of the most amazing works of art ever made.
Art: Movie poster for 'The Agony and the Ecstasy.' 20th Century Fox, 1965.
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