Exodus is a movie that, on paper, has a lot going for it. It’s got a solid cast led by two very talented actors, Christian Bale and Joel Edgerton. One of the writers was Steven Zaillian, known for such excellent films as Schindler’s List and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (the American remake). Finally, it’s directed by Ridley Scott, the man who gave us Alien, Blade Runner, and Gladiator. But Ridley’s recent track record is exactly why my enthusiasm has been dampened. You see, Ridley Scott tends to go in cycles. He’ll do a few good movies, then go through a slump, and then strike gold again. Right now, we are in the middle of a long Scott slump. Whether it’s Body of Lies, Robin Hood, Prometheus, or The Counselor, his recent films have all been disappointments. I was really hoping that Exodus would be different. Those hopes turned out to be empty, because Exodus is one of Ridley Scott’s worst movies.
Premise: Inspired by the famous biblical story, Exodus follows Moses (Christian Bale), a Hebrew raised within the Egyptian royal family. When he sees the suffering of his Hebrew brethren firsthand, Moses decides to get them out of Egypt with the help of God.
Pros: There’s some (and I must stress some) cool scenes that let Scott do what he does best; visuals. His strengths occasionally shine through in the battles and scenes showing the devastation of the ten plagues. It serves as a reminder of what Scott can do, but these good moments are also pretty rare.
Ben Kingsley gives the best performance in a film filled with bad ones. The weird things is he didn’t have to give a great performance. His character, Nun, is not in the movie for very long, and he doesn’t do much other than tell Moses that he is (gasp!) a Hebrew. But Kingsley found a way to make his character endearing and show-stealing. Careers have been built on worse performances.
Cons: Oh, there’s a bunch of stuff wrong with Exodus, but I’ll start with the relationship between Moses and his adopted brother-turned-rival Ramesses (Joel Edgerton). This should’ve been an epic story about two great friends who ultimately become bitter enemies because of their conflicting ideas of who has authority over the Hebrews. Dreamworks Animation did it with The Prince of Egypt, so you’d think Ridley Scott could do it. Wrong! Moses and Ramesses barely have any screentime together, and their relationship is severely underdeveloped. Sure, you get some scenes of them bickering, but you never see them the as loving brothers they once were. You don’t get to see how their relationship sours, because they sort of hate each other from the start.
I bet you thought a cast of talented actors like Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, John Turturro, Aaron Paul, and Sigourney Weaver could make Exodus a movie worth seeing. I know I did. But if that’s what you were thinking, you’d be wrong. Joel Edgerton looks embarrassed, and not just because he looks ridiculous with that spray-tan. He’s awkward and stilted, something that you don’t want your tragic villain to be. Paul and Weaver don’t do much of anything, and both seem like they just want to get out of here to go to the catering table. Bale gives a valiant effort, but even he struggles with the material he’s given. However, I can’t blame the actors. They had to work with a bad script, and Ridley Scott is not known for being an actor’s director (with a few exceptions). I feel especially bad for Aaron Paul, who hasn’t been transitioning out of Breaking Bad with much success.
You know how I said some of the visuals looked really good? Well, I also said they were the exceptions. Exodus has lots of bad visual effects. The ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea should look awesome, but they are too often ruined by underdone CGI. Even some things that you’d think would be easier to animate, like landscapes, often look like something out of a mid-2000s video game cutscene. Come on, Scott. I at least expect you to make your movie look good.
Verdict: Despite a good dose of ambition and an excellent premise, Exodus is another failure for a post-American Gangster Ridley Scott. Bad acting, bad effects, and a bad story make what could’ve been an interesting movie a tedious slog. I hope Scott can rebound, but with each bad movie it’s looking less and less likely. Skip this and watch The Ten Commandments or The Prince of Egypt.
Score: D+
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