Sword Of War (2009/Lionsgate DVD)
Picture:
B- Sound: C+ Extras: B- Movie: B+
Anyone
craving a good dose of historical movie-making need look no further than Renzo
Martinelli’s Sword of War, a 2009
production featuring Rutger Hauer in the role of Barbarossa, the embattled
Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Set in the period around 1169 A.D., this film
focuses on Barbarossa’s brutal campaign to put down the insurrection of the
Italian city-states. History tells us
that Milan and
others were eventually restored to freedom, but oh what bloody and twisted path
the film’s characters must travel to get there!
Lavishly
shot, Mr. Martinelli ably fills both the roles of script writer and director,
and Massimo Cantini Parrini’s gorgeous and gritty costume work transports the
viewer directly back to the muck and mire of Lombardy circa 1169. Mr. Hauer’s performance as the sometimes
tortured and superstitious Barbarossa is top notch, while Cécile Cassel offers
excellent support as his young but willful queen, Beatrice of Burgundy. Although many other fine Italian actors give
great performances in this epic, longtime American actor F. Murray Abraham
almost steals the show as the villainous Siniscalco Barozzi, a man of dark
appetites willing to switch sides to get what he wants.
Principally
an Italian production, there are minor issues with the dubbing of the English
dialogue, but these do not detract much from the overall high quality of the
product. The widescreen presentation
allows director Martinelli to take full advantage of his massive battle scenes,
and a bit of cleverly placed CGI helps to maintain the illusion of many men
(and a few women!) fighting and dying on a Medieval battlefield.
Viewers
should take caution, as some of the actions scenes are quite brutal, as befits
the period the film is set in. Sword of
War will scratch the itch of any action nut who also enjoys period films, and
there is enough intrigue, double-dealing, and crafty dialogue to satisfy those
viewers not as interested in the action.
- Scott Pyle
