Ben-Hur (1959)

Ben-Hur (1959)

7/10

Starring

Charlton Heston

Jack Hawkins

Haya Haraeet

Directed by William Wyler

The most amazing thing about the movie is the score—it is just wonderful. Then, add the tale of Ben-Hur, who went from being a prince to a slave and back, and learned the hard way that revenge does not bring contentment. What you have is this 50s masterpiece that everyone should get the privilege to see.

The story of Ben-Hur is set during the birth and death of Christ. At that time, Ben-Hur was a good friend of the next in line Governor of Jerusalem, Messala. Their friendship is tested (as Ben-Hur is a Jew and Messala is Roman) when Messala calls Ben aside and asks for the names of the Jews leading a rebellion against Rome. Ben’s refusal causes the two friends to part ways.

An unfortunate incident involving a loose tile leads to the death of the present Governor. Ben and his sister are responsible for the accident, but Messala fails to accept it for what it was—an accident—even after his investigation shows it was so.

Messala, out of revenge for Ben turning him down, has Ben sold into slavery and his family jailed. One thing leads to another, and Ben is free, with revenge being his sole focus.

As amazing as this movie is, I can tell you the pacing, especially in the middle sections, can feel sluggish, with long stretches that focus too heavily on Ben-Hur's journey for revenge rather than advancing the plot. Then the characters, while iconic, can seem one-dimensional at times, with Ben-Hur's single-minded pursuit of vengeance overshadowing any real character development.

Ben-Hur was a record-breaking Oscar movie, winning 11 out of the 12 Academy Award nominations it received. Some of its wins include Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Charlton Heston. Charlton’s 1956 movie, The Ten Commandments, was also a hit and showcased his gift for epic film portrayals. Ben-Hur is based on the book Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace, and the movie production features stunning cinematic scenes, such as the iconic chariot race.

Ben-Hur was both a critical and commercial success, and the movie is regarded as one of the best epic films ever made, ranking 100th on the American Film Institute’s Top 100 Movies list and 2nd on their Top Epic Films list.

Ben-Hur is a beautiful and highly successful movie that many should get the chance to see. It's a timeless piece with powerful performances, and breathtaking visuals make it a true classic.