The Agony and the Ecstasy

Adapted by Philip Dunne from the novel by Irving Stone, The Agony and the Ecstacy is the story of the 16th century war of wills between Renaissance artist Michelangelo (Charlton Heston) and "warrior pope" Julius II (Rex Harrison). Commissioned to paint a religious fresco on the ceiling of the ...more

Goaded by Pope Julius II, Michelangelo paints the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel between 1508 and 1512 in this lavish motion picture directed by Carol Reed. The production is a sumptuous feast for viewers who like films dripping with history, including watercolors trickling into Michelangelo's eyes while he lies on scaffolding painting the Book of Genesis from Adam to Noah. Although the film's script and character development are not exceptional, the production scores an A with a 16th century ...more