Where to watch Ben-Hur
3 1/2 Stars
A Jewish nobleman, Judah Ben-Hur, and his adopted Roman brother Messala are best friends despite their different origins. Messala enlists in the Roman army and fights in the Roman Empire’s wars in Germany. Ben-Hur also develops feelings for the family slave Esther although their different station in life compels him not to pursue her. But when her father Simonides seeks to marry her off to a Roman, Ben-Hur declares his love for her and takes her as his wife. Three years later, Messala returns as a decorated Roman officer. His return coincides with a rising insurrection by the Zealots, Jews who are opposed to the oppressive nature of Roman rule..
Ben-Hur is a semi-successful attempt to recreate one of the most cherished films from the golden era of studio-system filmmaking. Merging the latest in CGI and producing with a lavish production budget, Ben-Hur is an often compelling tale of faith, revenge, and the dangers of oppression. Hampered by the lack of a marquee star, the film suffers from feeling like a made-for-TV production. However, the rousing final act does manage to generate an ample amount of excitement and raise the pulse of this reviewer.
There is much to be impressed by in this 2016 remake of the Hollywood classic. The story is cleanly told, while the action scenes are crispy staged for maximum impact on the audience. Toby Kebbell, who should be a huge star by now, is magnetic on-screen, and he crafts a compelling portrayal of a complex character. Jack Huston is also good as the film’s star while saddled with the less nuanced character of the two. Ben-Hur was roughed up by critics and ignored by general audiences, but this movie is an overlooked gem.
Directed by: Timur Bekmambetov
Written by: Keith R. Clarke, John Ridley, Lew Wallace
Starring: Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, Rodrigo Santoro