“Caesar” [ ]
June 29, TNT, 8 pm
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WHO knew Jesus could play Caesar – and play crazy Billy too? I’m talking about Jeremy Sisto, who stars Sunday night in, and as “Caesar,” on TNT’s miniseries, along with Richard Harris, Christopher Walken, Chris Noth and Valeria Golino.
The movie – a hugely expensive, full-out costume drama – is more historically accurate probably than most of your (mine/our) favorite Roman epics. For one thing, it was painstakingly researched.
And for another, it shows Caesar from the time he was a mere fly in Rome’s ointment to his evolution into the man who changed the entire course of Greco-Roman history.
In the lead is Sisto, who was horrible as “Jesus” in the 1996 miniseries and who is great as Billy on “Six Feet Under.” He does a fantastic job here too.
Gone is Sisto’s dopey surfer Jesus portrayal, and he even manages to break free of his burned-into-our-consciousness portrayal as incestuous Billy.
The movie begins during the terrifying reign of Sulla (Richard Harris), who’d as soon have you gutted as have you over for grappa.
Caesar, who was epileptic and prone to seizures at the most inappropriate of times, defied Sulla – and lived, albeit in hiding – by refusing to divorce his first wife whose family was part of the opposition.
After Sulla’s death, Caesar returned to Rome and began his climb to power, aligning himself with Pompey (Chris Noth). Now I know what you’re thinking: how in hell could Mr. Big play a Roman political figure? I’m glad you asked. Very well, actually. And no, he doesn’t look like he escaped from “Animal House” in his toga.
After wife No. 1 kicks the bucket, Caesar meets Calpurnia (Valeria Golino) during one of his seizures. They marry and he promptly takes off to conquer the world as a general, despite the fact that he had no business being a soldier.
Meantime, Pompey falls hard for Caesar’s beloved daughter Julia (Nicole Grimaudo) who is about two generations too young for him, but they marry nonetheless. Daddy and hubby don’t stay friends for long-especially after Caesar refuses to turn his troops over and civil war breaks out.
Caesar’s overwhelming power (he becomes dictator for life – no, not emperor) leads to his ultimate fall. In fact, when the senate becomes the fly in Caesar’s ointment and his lust for total power looms unstoppable, they turn against him – and the rest, as they say, is history. Really big history.
Along the way, Caesar even shames his faithful wife Calpurnia by fooling around with Cleopatra (Samuela Sardo) and bringing her to Rome, his baby on her hip.
If you love Roman sagas, and Roman history, this one’s for you. The cast, especially Walken as Cato, Sisto, Noth and the always-great Golino are all first rate. I just wish there would have been more about Caesar’s time with Cleopatra although Sardo hardly looks the part.
