Film Review: Titus (1999)

Many bien pensants in recent decades were complaining about modern films and video games being too violent and thus responsible for such violence being replicated in real life. Those complaints, however, aren’t particularly new and the violence was part of culture from the earliest days. Even the most celebrated artists and writers from history had works with incredibly violent content. An example can be found in William Shakespeare and his tragedy Titus Andronicus. It is Shakespeare’s earliest work and often considered the worst, but historical record suggest that it was actually among the most popular. Its popularity influenced many later English playwrights with extreme violence becoming almost a trademark of English 17th Century drama. One of the greatest modern day ironies of Titus Andronicus was that its 1999 adaptation Titus, directed by Julie Taymor, got into trouble with MPAA ratings board not because of extreme violence, but because of few scenes featuring sex.

The plot of the play is set roughly in 4th Century AD Rome. Old and celebrated Roman general Titus Andronicus (played by Anthony Hopkins) returns to Rome after successful ten-year campaign against wild Goths during which he captured their queen Tamora (played by Jessica Lange). Titus paid dearly for victory, losing twenty out twenty five sons, so, in accordance with old customs, must appease their spirits by sacrificing Tamora’s oldest son. Just as it happens, Rome finds itself at the edge of civil war, but Titus prevents bloodshed by refusing to be proclaimed emperor and instead pledges allegiance to legitimate emperor Saturninus (played by Alan Cumming). He soon regrets it, because Saturninus, offended by being rejected by Titus’ daughter Lavinia (played by Laura Fraser), marries Tamora. Goth queen now becomes Roman empress and uses her new position that with the help of her black lover Aron (played by Harry J. Lennix) get vicious revenge on Titus. Her intrigue leads to the killings, rapes and mutilations that would result in Titus suffering unimaginable pain and humiliation before he starts planning revenge of his won.

Like so many 1990s film makers adapting Shakespeare’s works, Taymor did it in deliberately anachronistic fashion, so some Roman props and artefacts like swords and helmets are matched with automobiles, loudspeakers, jazz, video games, firearms and SS Lazio and AS Roma football fans’ insignia. Taymor continues with the practices that brought her Tony Award for her Broadway adaptation of The Lion King. Here her stage background works against the film. She lacks proper film making experience to match some pretty interesting images into coherent whole, in some ways compromising good work of cinematographer Luciano Tovoli, production designer Dante Feretti as well as interesting locations that include sections of Rome built during Mussolini era and famous Arena in Croatian city of Pula. Taymor makes some elements of the film confusing and one example can be found in the character of young boy, played by Osheen Jones, which is only at half of film’s length revealed to be Titus’ grandson. Taymor wasn’t too fortunate with the cast. Even such formidable actor like Anthony Hopkins seems subpar and near the end looks like he is spoofing Hannibal Lector, his best known role. On the other hand, Jessica Lange is great as evil Tamora, while Harry J. Lennix is wonderful as defiantly and unapologetically vile character. Those performances, together with couple of surreal scenes and likeable music numbers are reasons why viewers who like more unusual adaptations of Shakespeare’s work would probably enjoy Titus.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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