Titus (1999)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Julie Taymor

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play)
Julie Taymor (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 February 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | War

Tagline:

If you think you know Shakespeare....Think again.

Plot:

This film is an adaptation of the Shakespeare play "Titus Andronicus." Titus returns victorious from war, only to plant the seeds of future turmoil for himself and his family. Who says revenge is sweet?

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Hand | Emperor | Pie | General

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Osheen Jones	...	Young Lucius
Dario D'Ambrosi	...	Clown
Anthony Hopkins	...	Titus Andronicus
Jessica Lange	...	Tamora
Raz Degan	...	Alarbus
Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	Chiron
Matthew Rhys	...	Demetrius
Harry Lennix	...	Aaron
Angus Macfadyen	...	Lucius
Kenny Doughty	...	Quintus
Blake Ritson	...	Mutius
Colin Wells	...	Martius
Ettore Geri	...	Priest
Alan Cumming	...	Saturninus
Constantine Gregory	...	Aemelius

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violent and sexual images.

Runtime:

162 min

Country:

Italy | USA | UK

Language:

English | Latin

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Canada:18A (Alberta) | Canada:R (Manitoba/Ontario) | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) | Iceland:16 | Australia:MA (TV rating) | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | France:U | Germany:16 | Italy:T | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Singapore:R(A) | UK:18 | USA:R | Spain:18 | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Clear Blue Sky Productions

Trivia:

The cast rehearsed for three weeks before filming.

Goofs:

Continuity: The position of the spoon as Lucius jams it down Saturninus' throat.

Quotes:

Demetrius: Chiron, thy years wants wit, thy wit wants edge and manners, to intrude where I am graced, and may for aught thou knowest, affected be.
Chiron: Demetrius, thou dost overween it all and so in this, to bare me down with braves. 'Tis not the difference of a year or two makes me less gracious or thee more fortunate. I am as able and as fit as thou to serve and deserve my mistress' grace, and that my sword upon thee shall approve. And plead my passions for Lavinia's love.
Aaron: [to the camera] Clubs, clubs! These lovers will not keep the peace.
Demetrius: [to Chiron] Why, boy, although our mother, unadvised gave you a dancing rapier by your side are you so desprite grown to threat your friends? Go to! Have your lath glued within your sheath till you know better how to handle it.
Chiron: Meanwhile, sir, with the little skill I have full well shalt thou perceive how much i dare.
Demetrius: Ay, boy, grow ye so brave?
[they draw]
Aaron: [Aaron stops them] How now, lords! Here in the emperor's palace dare you draw and maintain such a quarrel openly? Full well I wot the ground of all this grudge. I would not for a million of gold the cause were known to them it most concerns. Nor would your noble mother for much more be so dishonored in the cort of Rome. For shame, put up.
Demetrius: Not till I have sheathed my rapier in his bosom and withal thrust those reproachful speeches down his throat that he hath breathed in my dishonor here.
Chiron: For that I am prepared and full resolved. Foul-spoken coward, that thunderest with thy tongue and with thy weapon nothing darest perform.
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Mr. Wu (1927)

Simple excellence

No spoilers here.

This is a Shakespeare play, and this one is no comedy, I must say. Shakespeare liked the Rome background, and exploited it quite, though with some anachronysms, and, in this one, a victorious general, Titus, returns to Rome amidst the succession dispute following the death of the Caesar. Soon he will be entangled in a vicious plot.

Yes, Titus is the early, sensational, Shakespeare play, but, it displays to us what can be most dreadful in human nature. A story of vengeance like I've never seen, I felt myself tossed to the pits of utter filth when I first read it. It's violent, violent, violent and simple, yet, not cheesy. It's a kind of violence that you wouldn't ever see in action-packed movies with bullets afly.

The movie can hold you to your seat if you have watched other Shakespeare play based movies previously, for it is intense. The background and costumes are not genuine Rome, they were modified to something that resembles the movie "Dune", but nothing is ridiculously anachronic, like I thought of that DiCaprio "Romeo & Juliet", which made me leave the seat in the very beginning (the "Sword" scene). This movie Titus doesn't try to be historical or actual, it's more surreal-like, with original, abridged, text. The violence is quite explicit, so have your stomach ready.

Alas, the acting is great! Totally recommended, this story is the Centaurs' Feast! Our journey shall be a very long and ominous journey, but you shall part on it with me.