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Film

Bitter foes, worthy contenders

Kingdom of Heaven remains neutral in its revisit of the crusades, which pits heroes from both sides against each other in a war that otherwise seethes with hypocrisy.

By STEVE PERSALL
Published May 5, 2005

[Photo: Twentieth Century Fox

Balian of Ibelin (Orlando Bloom, left) leads his knights into battle in Kingdom of Heaven.

When President Bush called the war in Iraq a "crusade," many Americans didn't understand why that riled Muslims, whose outrage forced a fast retraction from the Oval Office. Kingdom of Heaven can explain it to viewers who may have dozed through world history classes, while filling the screen with epic action we've come to expect from director Ridley Scott.

The film is set in 1184, during the third of seven crusades by European forces who believed themselves guided by God to conquer the Middle East, to shape politics and perhaps religion, and defeat Muslim forces equally convinced that their resistance was inspired by the divine. Kingdom of Heaven, for all its meticulous period detail, occasionally feels as if it's happening today.

From that allegorical perspective, is Scott's film pro-American, or pro-Iraqi? The answer is, neither. Kingdom of Heaven leans heavily toward moderation, mutual understanding and respect. Both sides have good guys and bad guys. Everybody claims that what they're doing, from diplomacy to murder, is willed by God or Allah. We can easily identify the hypocrites.

In the end, and this will surprise some American viewers, the reinstallation of the crescent of Islam above Jerusalem after the crusaders are defeated is the film's most gratifying moment. That's a risky, remarkable direction for Scott to nudge us toward in a post-9/11 world. But it works because William Monahan's screenplay skillfully presents two humane, dignified opponents who get what they want - what they deserve - by the finale, while the warmongers suffer.

Balian of Ibelin (Orlando Bloom) is a Catholic blacksmith whose wife committed suicide, a mortal sin that makes him fear for her soul. Grief leads Balian to murder a corrupt priest, so he fears for his own soul as well. Perhaps a pilgrimage to Jerusalem - controlled by Christians for nearly a century after the second crusade - could win atonement. Balian accompanies his illegitimate father, Godfrey (Liam Neeson), and other crusaders responding to a rising Muslim insurgency intent on recapturing the holy city.

Politics and warfare aren't Balian's interests, but Godfrey spurs him to become a knight and eventually take his place leading the crusaders. In Jerusalem he finds moderate King Baldwin (Edward Norton) dying of leprosy, and the heartless, ambitious Guy de Lusignan (Marton Csokas) waiting to ascend to power. Guy is married to the king's sister, Sibylla (Eva Green), who immediately flirts with Balian, creating rivalry between the two men. Political and romantic tensions rise until Balian's Muslim counterpart appears.

Saladin (Ghassan Massoud) is an Islamic hero, not only for the retaking of Jerusalem depicted in this film, but also for his humanity; he allowed many Christians to evacuate safely, despite the fact that crusaders massacred Jerusalem's Muslims when they took control of the city. Massoud's intense countenance initially suggests a villain in the making, until his rational approach to the conflict becomes clear. This is a remarkably dignified portrait, richer and more balanced than the way Hollywood typically depicts Muslim leaders. It's what lifts Kingdom of Heaven above its sword-swinging roots into something like historical reportage.

When Scott's characters aren't eloquently defining the conflict, they're charging headlong into it. The battle scenes of Kingdom of Heaven are intensely personal, even when they employ casts of computer-generated thousands. The siege of Jerusalem - almost an Alamo scenario - is the equal of any in cinema that don't include Hobbits. Scott skillfully explains the strategy of ancient battle - the way he dissected modern warfare in Black Hawk Down - with that film's antiwar sentiments transported to the 12th century.

Everything in Scott's film screams importance, from Harry Gregson-Williams' musical score to set designs in Spain that closely resemble the holy land. It might seem as if Scott is merely retracing his Gladiator steps, but that's an unfair assumption.

Gladiator was a rousing popcorn movie, but the more somber Kingdom of Heaven offers food for thought.

Grade: B-plus

Director: Ridley Scott

Cast: Orlando Bloom, Liam Neeson, Ghassan Massoud, Eva Green, Edward Norton, Jeremy Irons, David Thewlis, Marton Csokas, Alexander Siddig, Brendan Gleeson

Screenplay: William Monahan

Rating: R; strong violence, brief sensuality

Running time: 146 min.

[Last modified May 3, 2005, 14:10:06]