Hey folks, Harry here... I don't have the energy right now to write a review for THE ALAMO... It's just a mediocre flick with bright spots provided by Billy Bob - who really came to work on this one. His Davy Crockett is a wonderful take on the character - and absolutely nails it. It's too bad that there isn't a single other character in this mess that stands out. It is too bad there's no suspense, claustrophobia, feeling of inevitability in the film. That there's no good action in the film, zero kinetics and that Santa Ana comes across as Snidely Whiplash... well - that's unfortunate. There's some beautiful sunsets in this movie though. Really pretty skies. As Quint says - the score is ass... diseased ass... Dmitri's classic score stomps and pisses on this score. For a film that they spent so much money on, it feels so lacking in luster. Here's Quint....
Ahoy, squirts. Quint here with a brief look at the upcoming historical epic THE ALAMO. I said this'll be a brief look because... well, there's not much to say about this movie.
I moved to Texas when I was 12 years old, just in time for the Middle School Texas History classes. I dug the bloody underdog aspect to the story of the Alamo, always have.
Could this have been a good movie? Most certainly. It was half-way to being a good movie... Half-way... That's this movie. There is no real emotional investment for any of the men in the Alamo, despite a lot of time trying (unsuccessfully) to make us care for them, with the possible exception of Jim Bowie and David Crockett. Billy Bob is the only real standout and, not surprisingly, is one of the only characters given anything interesting to do.
Santa Ana is the broadest, most stereotypical villain it makes me wish we never saw him in the film. He is given the worst dialogue and each time we see him we're not given any input on to why he's doing what he's doing. The whities are kind of stealing his land, after all. He has motivation, on top of being a douche... why not show that? Why not show why the whities are fighting so hard for the Alamo (besides a few lines of dialogue said in passing) and what their fight really gave to the cause. Throughout the film you're never really given any indication of the real damage they did to Santa Ana's army. What I'm saying is that the film is missing some rather crucial pieces.
The battles are like the characters in the film: half-assed. There are some interesting shots, but they were very neutered. There are no visuals to fake sympathy out of us and when you don't give us characters we care about or a threat that's really menacing, then you better give us some blood and guts. None of the above is done here, so what you get is a mediocre movie that has one or two bright moments.
Those moments lie with Thornton and Jason Patric, who plays Jim Bowie. My favorite part of the film was them comparing the myths surrounding their names to each other. A good scene with some good actors, but that's about where the great moments stop.
This movie isn't offensively bad, just not terribly good. Dennis Quaid has his "sour" face on the whole time and his big "Remember the Alamo" speech, the big moment for Sam Houston, wasn't particularly effective or moving. I guess if I cared about those that had died or understood their sacrifice a bit more, then I would have given more of a shit...
Listen, I live in TRAVIS County, went to JAMES BOWIE High School and have had an interest in Texas history since I moved here as a child. Hell, John Lee Hancock was one of the first people I ever interviewed (for that Bowie School newspaper) back when he was best known for writing A PERFECT WORLD. He's a super nice guy and I like him a lot. I wanted this movie to work and it just doesn't. Some good moments with Billy Bob and Jason Patric, some pretty photography by Dean Semler and that's about it.
I have to bring up Carter Burwell's score. It's terrible. Absolutely obvious and at times really hideous. Distracting in some spots, aping Howard Shore's LOTR score in others. Disappointing to say the least, as I really liked his work on THE LADYKILLERS and his contributions to O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?.
That's it from me on this one. Like I said above, The Alamo isn't offensively bad, but not good either. The 45 minute version that plays the IMAX in San Antonio is more engaging, if that tells you anything. I'll be back soon with some really cool news and a great, world-exclusive bit of news in my next Chum Bucket column. 'Til then, this is Quint bidding you all a fond farewell and adieu.
-Quint
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