Agony and the Ecstasy

Rating:
Summary: Inspirational Art: Charlton Heston Is Michaelangelo
Review: 1965: Carol Reed, director of "The Third Man" produces a superb film about the life of the Renaissance master artist and sculptor, Michaelangelo, based on the novel by Irving Stone. Who would have thought that Charlton Heston, the 50's and 60's actor most known for his heroic masculine, larger than life roles such as Moses from "The Ten Commandments" would play the peaceful, pensive artist who created the world's most beautiful cathedral, the Sistine Chapel. Irving Stone's novel focuses on this period in Michaelangelo's life, especially his prominence in Florentine society. The film revolves around Michaelangelo's commission by Pope Julius II to create the Sistine Chapel, a timeless masterpiece for all the ages. In doing so, Michaelangelo takes a tremendous risk, for the Pope can be a very fierce man- at one point he even slaps Michaelangelo.

Historical inaccuracies pop up as is always the case in historic fiction. For example, Michaelangelo's painting of "The Creation of Man" (God reaching out his hand to touch Adam with life) is portrayed here as Michaelangelo drawing inspiration from the heavens themselves- a ray of light from a cloud. There is romance to the film, not only in aesthetic sense, but in a subplot involving the daughter of a Renaissance art patron who falls for Michaelangelo.

The rest is purely a feast for the eyes- the high views of Florence with its towering cathedrals and bell towers, the Pieta statues, the Sistine Chapel's interior, fountains and Italian villages. Rex Harris (My Fair Lady) portrays the seemingly indifferent Pope, who is troubled by unrest and war. The relationship between Michaelangelo and Pope Julius is truly the most striking aspect of the drama.

Both Rex Harrison and Charlton Heston should have won Oscars for roles which were outside their mainstream performances. The Pope and Michaelangelo have a intense relationship, one of compromise, one of admiration and loyalty, one of devotion to God. Michaelangelo as an individual is of course the very essence of this film, particularily as he struggles with social issues and inner conflict to paint the Sistine Chapel.

The Agony and the Ecstasy is just that- the pain of creation, or "giving birth" to something so magnificent and the pleasure and enjoyment of the finished work in the end. Of course this can apply to the fundamentalist view of God's creation, who "rested" after making the world and found it to be "good". This is a great film and educational for art history students. Five stars. Well done. I would like to end with an interesting fact. One of Michaelangelo's last written memoirs or documents was found in his studio, a letter of advice given to an apprentice of his. It read something like this "But above all, draw Antonio! Draw!."

Rating:
Summary: The Agony and the Ecstasy
Review: A Movie dealing entirely with the struggle of two men to create a great piece of artwork amidst the conquests of a warrior pope in the Renaissance. The Agony and the Ecstasy relates the story of an unwilling Michelangelo, portrayed by Charlton Heston, forced to paint the walls of an ill-designed chapel, and who, through great thought, decides that if he must paint, then he will paint flawlessly. Rather than painting the portraits of the Apostles on the walls Michelangelo fills the entire dome of the chapel with beautiful, heart-filled murals depicting certain scenes from the bible. Also representing the attachment of Pope Julius II, Rex Harrison, to the project, Pope Julius is seen ignoring the field of battle to discuss the all-important artistry involved with such a massive project. Finally, the movie portrays the view of the Pope as being most powerful and commanding, able to have his every whim accomplished without delay.

Michelangelo may be seen as the perfectionist artist drawn into a long and grueling task against his will, but who decides that if he must put his name to something that it will be done right. "I was born to sculpt, not paint." He is repeatedly throughout the process asked "When will you have done," to which he always responds "When I am finished". Pope Julius II on the other hand is a despot who allows his warmer side to show only through his appreciation of art. Always greedy, and always in search of saving a ducat, Julius refuses to pay decent wages, but instead uses his title to force Michelangelo to do his bidding. It takes everything Michelangelo has just to convince the Pope to let him paint the chapel as he sees fit. "I will paint men as God made them: in the glory of their nakedness!" The Pope is seen in the movie to be more concerned with Michelangelo's submission than with the work of the Sistine Chapel. He always has to be in charge, even in private; for fear that any compassion would come across as weakness.

I enjoyed this movie and consider it one of Charlton Heston's better works, although he did over-act a little as such is his trademark. I found the prologue, although not necessary to the plot, a nice addition to the video in order to get a wider perspective of Michelangelo's plight in being ordered to paint. The image of the Pope and servant on the scaffolding discussing the work by candlelight is memorable and helped to make the Pope seem just a little more human. Overall, I like this movie, but I was left with the question of--Why, if the Pope is engaged with such bitter conflicts and is on the brink of annihilation, does Julius II make the painting of one of his chapels a top priority?

Rating:
Summary: Almost like a fresco...
Review: Based on the famous book by Irving Stone ,this 1965 film portrays the stormy relationship between the genius Michelangelo and his patron,the warrior pope Julius the IInd(Erasmus's'Julius Exclusus').The performances of both Charlton Heston (Michelangelo)and Rex Harrison(Pope Julius)are out of this world while the entire cast,decor and settings wonderfully reconstitute the world of the Italian Renaissance.Is this film historically accurate?Totally irrelevant since it creates a mesmerizing and true to life story that is utterly moving and compelling being somewhere in between a movie and a play.

Rating:
Summary: "I planned a ceiling, he planned a miracle"
Review: There is no other film on the subject of art that is better than this one in my opinion. Irving Stone's best-seller was a great read, but in this case the film is better than the book. It centers on the creation of the Sistine Chapel ceiling, and the contentious but invigorating relationship between Michelangelo and Pope Julius II; one drove the other "to complete his work", and even their verbal battles were productive. It is about the courage of putting one's vision into reality, the hard work, and the faith in one's self and in God.

The script by Irving Stone and Philip Dunne is fabulous; the words flow like sweet wine and there is not a single unnecessary scene, or rarely one that is not meaningful. The direction by Carol Reed is meticulous, the cinematography by Leon Shamroy a marvel, and the score by Alex North adds much to the film. The costuming and sets are lavish for the papal quarters and the Medici household, and give one a sense of 16th century Rome, and the depictions of the fresco painting technique is interesting and educational.

Charlton Heston, gaunt and bearded, is brilliant as Michelangelo, as is Rex Harrison as the warrior pope. The interactions of these two actors is riveting, and the dialogue between them worth hearing repeatedly. Others of note in the cast include Diane Cilento as the Contessina de Medici, Harry Andrews as Bramante, and Tomas Milian as Raphael (the most famous papal portrait I know of is by Raphael, of Pope Julian II).

Though Stone's book and script take much artistic license, there is also a good deal of accuracy. This period of 16th century Italy was one of the most fascinating in all world history, and Pope Julius II was not only one of its greatest art patrons, but also an extraordinary man.
This is a film that moves me to tears with its beauty, and brightens my mind with its words. If you are interested in the artistic process, don't miss this magnificent film.

The film includes a Prologue, a mini-documentary of modern-day Rome and Florence, which traces Michelangelo's life, from his birth in Tuscany in 1475, showing his many wondrous works, including an early sculpture he did at the age of 15, through his death in 1564. Total running time is 139 minutes.

Rating:
Summary: Almost a spiritual journey
Review: Though I am useless at sculpting and almost so at painting, I have sort of adopted Michaelangelo as my creative mentor. This movie cemented that thought.

Michaelangelo is a master sculptor from Florence, carving the tomb for the warrior-pope Julius (no, he isn't dead yet even though they're carving his tomb). But Julias drags him from his commission for another one-paint the ceiling of the Sistine chapel with "appropriate designs." Michaelangelo, who has only dabbled in fresco painting, is both enraged and inspired. He destroys the paintings and runs away from Rome, but returns when a vision shows him how the ceiling should be. Both men, creator and destroyer, artist and pope, are changed forever by the "work of love" that is the Sistine Chapel.

Charlton Heston was in fine form in this movie-he makes you feel everything that Michaelangelo feels. I sometimes think that the real men rather than the monuments (like Moses) that he plays are more his style. He does it realistically, wearing ratty clothing and often covered with paint dribbles. Michaelangelo does not stay the same-at the end of the movie, he is a humbler and wiser man than before.

And don't diss Rex Harrison-once I got over the "Doctor Doolittle as pope" thing, I found him very enjoyable. He manages to overcome some lines that would make me giggle in his place, including, "Is it proper for your pontiff to conduct Mass in a barn?" He makes you hate Julius initially, but as the movie progresses you grow to love him as much as Michaelangelo.

There are some truly excellent secondary characters, like Tessina the noblewoman who sort-of-secretly loves Michaelangelo, but understands that his paintings come first. Her brother, a Medici cardinal, seems a bit stilted, though. Tomas Milian plays another famous Renaissance artist, Raphael, who shows up with only a few lines of dialogue, but changes the course of the movie. Oh, and watch out for ice-cold architect Bramante.

Combine it with the glorious shots of the Sistine chapel's ceiling and Heston painting mockups, and you have a movie that deserves to be a classic.