On Screen: “Those About to Die”
Those About to Die
Director Roland Emmerich recruited Anthony Hopkins to head the cast and created a cutting-edge virtual production to replicate ancient Rome for his first television series “Those About to Die,” streaming on the Peacock network.
This brutal, bloody sword-and-sandal epic explores despicable trickery and feverish gambling in the world of Circus Maximus chariot racing and, although it’s derivative, disjointed, repetitive and somewhat incoherent, it should whet your appetite for Ridley Scott’s upcoming “Gladiator 2,” scheduled for release later this year.
Ailing, elderly Vespasian (Hopkins) is the last Roman emperor to reign in the Year of Four Emperors, ruling from 69 to 79 AD. His rival sons are politically naïve Titus (Tom Hughes), a celebrated soldier with a Judean consort (Lara Wolf), and sadistic, scheming Domitian (Jojo Macari). Both are waiting to inherit his crown.
Yet the antihero-protagonist is manipulative Tenex (Iwan Rheon), a ruthless entrepreneur who runs Rome’s most lucrative gambling tavern. His ambition is to form his own chariot racing faction, placing him in direct conflict with various patrician families; the champion chariot driver, arrogant Scorpus (Dimitri Leoniadas), helps Tenex rig races.
Traveling from North Africa, there’s Cala (Sara Martins), a determined Numidian mother working to free her enslaved daughters Aura and Jula (Kyshan Wilson, Alicia Edogamhe), and brave, lion-tracking son Kwame (Moe Hashim), who is forced to fight as a gladiator with his Northman friend Viggo (Johannes Haukur Johannesson).
Barely differentiated are the Spanish horse trainers (Eneko Sagardoy, Pepe Barroso, Goncalo Almeida), eager for acceptance at the Circus Maximus.
Based on Daniel P. Mannix’s 1958 novel, it’s adapted by Robert Rodat (“Saving Private Ryan”) and directed by Roland Emmerich (“Independence Day,” “The Day After Tomorrow”) with Marco Kreuzpaintner (“Bodies”).
Despite pretensions of prestige filmmaking, the predictable, superficial characterizations and pulpy, violent plot are peppered with gratuitous sex and rampant nudity, although there may be a correlation with today’s sports fandom and online gambling.
Filmed at Rome’s legendary Cinecitta Studios, it’s a virtual production (VP), a relatively new technology that replicates the spectacular outdoor racing venue. “The artifice is what makes it entertaining — and profitable,” notes Domitian.
On the Granger Gauge of 1 to 10, “Those About to Die” is a gruesome, gory 5 — with all 10 episodes now streaming on Peacock.
Susan Granger is a product of Hollywood. Her natural father, S. Sylvan Simon, was a director and producer at M.G.M. and Columbia Pictures. Her adoptive father, Armand Deutsch, produced movies at M.G.M.
As a child, Susan appeared in movies with Abbott & Costello, Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Margaret O’Brien, and Lassie. She attended Mills College in California, studying journalism with Pierre Salinger, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with highest honors in journalism.
During her adult life, Susan has been on radio and television as an anchorwoman and movie and drama critic, syndicating her reviews and articles around the world, including Video Librarian. She has appeared on American Movie Classics and Turner Classic Movies. In 2017, her book 150 Timeless Movies was published by Hannacroix Creek Books. Her website is www.susangranger.com.