'Ben-Hur' review: The classic tale gets a modern-day retelling

Rating: ***

Cast: Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, Nazanin Boniadi, Ayelet Zurer, Pilou Asbæk, Sofi a Black-D’Elia, Morgan Freeman

Director: Timur Bekmambetov

The classic tale of Ben-Hur (Huston) gets a modern-day retelling. Even though this film cannot replace the four-hours-long 1959 version that had Charlton Heston play the protagonist, it does a decent job.

The story revolves around Ben-Hur, who is made to serve as a slave on a Roman galley. He is then rescued by Ilderim (Freeman) after being shipwrecked and rebuilds his life. A naval battle scene deserves note and the famed chariot race itself makes the movie worth watching. Huston essays the role of Ben-Hur with a degree of conviction. Kebbell’s Messala is suitably nasty, as he treacherously turns upon Ben-Hur, motivated by petty reasons. The other key characters — Ben-Hur’s wife Esther (Boniadi) and mother Naomi (Zurer) — also put in a convincing show. However, both of them deserve more screen time.


A scene from Ben-Hur (Image: Facebook)

The movie takes its time to build up and the second half is where the action really gets going. Morgan Freeman’s character — a shrewd but honest merchant who cannot resist a good bet — is wise, and he carries it off with ease.