Titus (1999)

Titus returns victorious from war, only to plant the seeds of future turmoil for himself and his family.

Director:

Julie Taymor

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play), Julie Taymor (screenplay)

Stars:

Anthony Hopkins, Jessica Lange, Osheen Jones

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Osheen Jones	...	Young Lucius
Dario D'Ambrosi	...	Clown
Anthony Hopkins	...	Titus Andronicus
Jessica Lange	...	Tamora
Raz Degan	...	Alarbus
Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	Chiron
Matthew Rhys	...	Demetrius
Harry Lennix	...	Aaron
Angus Macfadyen	...	Lucius
Kenny Doughty	...	Quintus
Blake Ritson	...	Mutius
Colin Wells	...	Martius
Ettore Geri	...	Priest
Alan Cumming	...	Saturninus
Constantine Gregory	...	Aemelius

Storyline

War begets revenge. Victorious general, Titus Andronicus, returns to Rome with hostages: Tamora queen of the Goths and her sons. He orders the eldest hewn to appease the Roman dead. He declines the proffered emperor's crown, nominating Saturninus, the last ruler's venal elder son. Saturninus, to spite his brother Bassianus, demands the hand of Lavinia, Titus's daughter. When Bassianus, Lavinia, and Titus's sons flee in protest, Titus stands against them and slays one of his own. Saturninus marries the honey-tongued Tamora, who vows vengeance against Titus. The ensuing maelstrom serves up tongues, hands, rape, adultery, racism, and Goth-meat pie. There's irony in which two sons survive.

---

Plot Keywords:

title directed by female | year 400 | bow the weapon | housefly | hunt | 

---

Taglines:

If you think revenge is sweet...taste this.

---

Genres:

Drama | History | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violent and sexual images

Details

Official Sites:

Polish distributor Official site to Titus

Country:

Italy USA UK

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

11 February 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tit Andronik

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$22,313, 26 December 1999, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,921,350, 21 May 2000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,007,290, 19 May 2017

Company Credits

Production Co:

Clear Blue Sky Productions, Overseas FilmGroup, Urania Pictures S.r.l.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

162 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In a television profile on British television in 2002, Sir Anthony Hopkins confirmed that he had found the experience of working on this film so stressful, that he decided at the time to retire from film acting. In the same interview, Hopkins points out that in the dinner scene towards the end of the film, he mimics the great British "Knight" actors of Shakespeare: Sir John Gielgud, Sir Ralph Richardson, and Sir Laurence Olivier.

---

Goofs

When Tamora leaves the party/orgy to join Aaron on the balcony, her hands are clasped across her chest. In the next shot she is holding a cigarette.

---

Quotes

Titus: Oh villains, Chiron and Demetrius. Here stands the spring whom you have stained with mud, this goodly summer with your winter mixed. You killed her husband, and for that vile fault two of her brothers were condemned to death, my hand cut off and made a merry jest, both her sweet hands, her tongue, and that more dear than hands or tongue, her spotless chastity, inhuman traitors, you constrained and forced. What would you say if I should let you speak? Villains, for shame, you could not beg for ...

---

Connections

Referenced in Nostalgia Critic: Matrix Reloaded (2015)

User Reviews

Titus Maximus

First time I saw this film was in Nepal. In a hotel in Kathmandu. It was filmed inside the cinema; the picture was corny, the sound was phony, and the show was cheap...-)

However it left me in such a state of exaltation that I had a hard time leaving the hotel back room. And I was not to be found withing myself for hours thereafter.

Not that it is necessary, but I had already read Shakespeare's first play (titus andronicus) from which this film hath been made. However, I never liked the story, never found its beauty. T'was about Rome and a Roman war hero returning home to find politics going awry; also, it is Shakespeare's most brutal play. But it never got to me. No beauty, only random killing; I liked his later works much better.

Until I saw this film!

Directed by a very able woman, Julie Taymor, the pictures are intense in colours and framing, and the acting is equally intense (Jessica Lange and Anthony Hopkins against each other). Furthermore the film is BEAUTIFUL while projecting the malice of a - in many ways - vanquished father.

At one point Lavinia, the daughter, stands in a ...... No - Better you see it for yourself! There is so much horror, yet so much beauty in this film that you would never believe it came from Hollywood.

Hair rising from the back of my neck while walking from my seat.

Lumps of saliva unable to be swallowed.

And adrenalin still surging through my mind for days thereafter although I was placed in beautiful landscapes.

I bought this film as soon as I got home from Nepal. Right away..!

I rate this film 10+. And I would do so 4 times again, if I was able to. It's a must-see for those not yet dulled by the hollywoodification of common film standards. Especially if you fancy horrific beauty.

Gilbert Ipp, DenMarque