MovieChat Forums > Imperium: Augustus (2003) Discussion > Did anybody else think the acting was ho...

Did anybody else think the acting was horrible?

posted 12 years ago by sgordon52
2 replies | jump to latest

I was surprized at how poor the acting was, and I its not like I'm the first person to comment on acting in a movie. There voices were soft and contrived. Peter O'Toole had a strong voice and acted the part well, as would be expected. Julia and Young Livia apparently got the parts because of their looks. The acting felt like a seventh grade play, neither showed any emotion and it was distracting. While I'm at it, the writing was like a History Channel special. Everyone was explaining the background history as they went along. I know we have to have some background, but couldn't it have been more natural?

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] vgtar 12 years ago

Yes, the acting was absolutely bloodcurdling! I think it might have been because most actors where intimidated by being up against O'tool and Rampling, and therefor hammering it up a bit. In combination to that, they where working with a script, where most lines where very "grand" and theatrical, and not at all contributing to a natural flowing dialog.
I suspect the director was way in over his head on this one. Instead of spending all the production money on Rampling and O'Tool, it might have been better to splash a bit on a director, who could give the actors some directions.