The Agony And The Ecstasy

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the agony and the ecstasy

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The Agony And The Ecstasy

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Charlton Heston and Rex Harrison portray two of the Renaissance's most colorful figures in this historical drama based on Irving Stone's best-seller set in the early 16th century. When Pope Julius ll (Harrison) commissions Michelangelo (Heston) to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the artist initially refuses. Virtually forced to do the job by Julius, he later destroys his own work and flees to Rome. Eventually resumed, the project becomes a battle of wills fueled by artistic and temperamental differences that form the core of this movie. Nominated for an Oscar® Cinematography and named one of the year's best films by the National Board of Review.

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Carol Reed (The Third Man) directed this 1965 portrait of the relationship between Michelangelo (Charlton Heston) and Pope Julius II (Rex Harrison), who commissioned the artist to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Based on a novel by Irving Stone, the script plods along, juggling the dynamics between the two men along with a somewhat perfunctory love story and distracting battle sequences. Reed seems more attuned to the nuances and great pains of the artistic process, as seen in sequences of Michelangelo working. But the overall focus of the film is unfortunately fuzzy. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

Rating:
Date: 2008-06-23
It is yours only when I give it to you.......
Curious story of what can result when we are pushed beyond our anticipated limits by unusual mentors. Another appropriate title could have been..."The stubborn vs the headstrong" Both lead did a wonderful job of bringing their charactoers from the screen into the living room. Loved this line....."It is yours only when I give it to you."

Rating:
Date: 2008-06-23
A Classic that will not disappoint
The Agony and the Ecstasy is a wonderful adaptation of Irving Stone's book. Heston's portrayal of Michelangelo conveys the attitude of the tempermental artist to perfection, while Harrison's role as Julius II gives a down-to-earth view of the "warrior pope," ending somewhat more sympathetically than one might expect--and probably rightly so. If you like stories dealing with the battle of wills, or if you are a fan of Renaissance hisotry/art/anything, this film is well worth it.

Rating:
Date: 2008-06-12
waste of time
this was not a good movie when first released and it has not improved over time. the acting is stilted and over the top, the script poorly done and full of angst. Heston and Harrison are annoying enough when seen individually but are almost ridiculous when on screen together.

Rating:
Date: 2008-05-20
Good Movie
The Agony And The Ecstasy is a fine addition to my Charlton Heston movie
collection.

Rating:
Date: 2008-01-08
Agony and the Ecstasy Review
We really enjoyed this movie. We wanted to see it, because a few weeks prior we had actually visited the Sistine Chapel and were interested in the "story" behind it. Movie was well done -- costumes and scenery (backgrounds) just like it looks. We were able to say "we've been there".

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