Title: Caesar
Stars: Jeremy Sisto, Richard Harris,
Christopher Walken, Chris Noth, and Valeria Golino
Writers: Peter Pruce and Craig
Warner
Director: Uli Edel
Running Time: 178 minutes without
commercials
Media: TNT Original Television Motion
Picture (NTSC VHS Screener)
World Premiere Part One - Sunday, June
30, 2003, at 8pm (ET/PT)
World Premiere Part Two – Monday,
June 30, 2003, at 8pm (ET/PT)
Network: Turner Network Television
(Check your local cable/satellite listings for channel)
TV Rating: TV-14-V
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
Most of the time when I think of the
historical figure of Julius Caesar I think of his later life as it relates to
Rome’s change from a Republic to an Empire, the events that led to his
assassination and the civil war that occurred after his death. I think with the
exception of his death, most dramas focus on the aftermath, whether it is the
relationship the formed between Mark Antony and Cleopatra or the heirs that
followed Caesar as Emperors of Rome, which were Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula,
Claudius, and Nero. Between Hollywood films and the acclaimed miniseries “I’
Claudius,” I feel like I have some understanding or at least an interpretation
of the character of the first five Emperors who ruled after Julius’ death, but
until I saw this upcoming TNT Original Miniseries entitled “Caesar,” I never
realized how much I just took for granted the background of Julius Caesar. So
with an outstanding cast that features Jeremy Sisto as “Julius Caesar,” the
late Richard Harris as the tyrant “Sulla,” Chris Noth as the First Council
“Pompey,” Christopher Walken as the outspoken Roman Senator “Cato,” and
Valeria Golino as Caesar’s wife “Calpurnia” and under the screen direction
of Uli Edel, whose credits include such acclaimed TNT miniseries and original
films such as “The Mists Of Avalon,” “King Of Texas,” and
“Purgatory,” “Caesar” introduces us to the title character when he was a
young man and shows how events formed his character to what history and
Hollywood has portrayed him to be .
Having returned from a military
victory, Sulla (Harris) crowns himself King of Rome and begins a reign a
tyranny. Julius is a man of strong will and integrity. He believes he is the
descendent of Roman divinity though he is not insane like “Caligula” was.
After defying Sulla, Caesar is forced to flee Rome until after the death of the
Tyrant. He is then called back to Rome by Sulla’s second in command turned
First Council Pompey (Noth), who admired Julius as a man of integrity. Through
the marriage of his daughter to Pompey, Caesar becomes one of the most powerful
men in the Republic. More powerful than the Roman Senate and it’s outspoken
politician Cato (Christopher Walken). However the lust for power drives Caesar
to manipulate Pompey into allowing him to lead a military campaign in Gaul
because Caesar knows that it will make him more powerful as a man of the people
and gain him allies within the military. When Caesar expands his campaign to the
complete and total conquest of Gaul, Pompey and Cato organize an army against
him, fearful that he will do exactly what Sulla did in the past, but it is too
late because the Praetorian Guard have already crossed the Rubicon so Pompey and
Cato flee their separate ways. Upon Caesar’s arrival he is crowned Dictator
for life by a fearful senate. He then sets out to meet Pompey and Cato’s
troops in battle. Both armies are easily beaten and the survivors given the
chance to join Caesar’s army. By the time Caesar arrives in Egypt, he
discovers that Pompey is already dead and he is left emotionally vulnerable
enough to be manipulated by Cleopatra. When he returns to Rome with Queen
Cleopatra and a child who could be his heir, a conspiracy develops between
several Roman Senators culminating tragic events that would ultimately turn Rome
into an Empire and have ramifications on history for centuries to follow.
“Caesar” is a terrific miniseries
though a bit misbalanced in the middle because it focuses a bit too long on his
campaign in Gaul, when it should have focused more on the political intrigues of
the characters. Do not expect very much regarding Caesar’s relationship with
Cleopatra and the second civil war that followed his death, because
appropriately this miniseries stays focused on events surrounding the Roman
point of view. This is not a romantic tragedy as much as it is a character study
and the cast is quite good in their respective roles. It seems as if the late
Richard Harris was already struggling to hold back any suffering he was
undergoing during this time, but I am not be entirely sure if it is the
knowledge that he died shortly after his role in “Caesar” causes one the
project the image of a man trying to cover up pain or whether he really was
suffering. For what it is worth, he delivered a great performance for this
miniseries and those who think that Christopher Walken’s role is nothing more
than an extended cameo, will be pleased to know that he actually plays a large
and very important part in the entire miniseries and pulls off a masterful
supporting performance. Other standout performances include Heino Ferch as
“Vercingetorix” and Sean Pertwee as “Labienus.” Ralph Brown appears as
“Xanthus” in the film as well.
“Caesar” is a great summer treat
not to be missed when it makes it World Premiere on TNT with Part One on Sunday,
June 29, 2003, at 8pm (ET/PT) and Part Two on Monday, June 30, 2003, at 8pm
(ET/PT). Encores are as follow below:
Part
One, Sunday, June 29, 2003, at 10pm (ET/PT)
Part
Two, Monday, June 30, 2003, at 10pm (ET/PT)
Part
One, Sunday, June 29, 200s, at 12am (ET/PT)
Part
Two, Monday, June 30, 2003, at 12am (ET/PT)
© Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.